From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
The repeated failure of the follower roller in the steering column for chassis B.154.MR.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 153\1\ scan0216 | |
| Date | 24th March 1939 | |
| By RM{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} To Sr. 1300. Levallois Sr/VA4/ET.24.3.39 Re: CHASSIS B.154.MR - Captain MOLYNEUX (Failure of the follower roller of the original steering column and also of the replacement one) Please find attached Mechanic Nanot's report of to-day's date (which I have had translated) concerning the failure of the follower roller of the replacement steering. Nanot fitted the first replacement steering (removed from B.182.MR) at Boulogne without any difficulty. The second steering (removed from B.160.MR), which we fitted to the car at the Garage de la{L. A. Archer} Somme, Nouvions-en-Ponthieu was also fitted without any difficulty. As requested by you, I personally drove the car from Nouvions -en-Ponthieu to Paris at a moderate speed, after the fitting of the second steering column, and I found the steering and the car in general to be O.K. I did not, however, exceed 50 m.p.h. ORIGINAL STEERING - The cause of the trouble was the failure of the follower roller, which had broken into 3 large and 3 small pieces). The F.W.906 adjusting sleeve has been scored. This must have taken place after the failure of the roller , and been caused by the broken bits, when maneuvering the car after the failure of the roller. We also dismantled the replacement steering (removed from B.182.MR). The follower roller had also failed and cracked up into 2 large and 3 small pieces. The F.W.906 adjusting sleeve is cracked and is also badly scored. This must also have taken place after the failure of the roller and been caused by the broken bits, when maneuvering the car after the failure of the roller. We do not at present know the cause of the cracking up of the rollers. We are at present making an examination of the chassis, in order to try and determine whether it has been damaged in any way, causing undue pressure to be applied to the steering column and cam and roller. The two steering boxes complete with the broken rollers have been sent to the Works to-day by air mail for examination. | ||