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).
Investigation into steering stiffness on Trials cars after a short run, with opinions from the Repair Department.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 20\2\ Scan033 | |
| Date | 4th October 1913 | |
| Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}/EM4/L41013 X963 Re Steering Mechanism. - Stiffness after short run. X.587 J.{Mr Johnson W.M.} 4-10-13. R.{Sir Henry Royce} PN.{Mr Northey} On 19/6/13 Mr Northey complained that the steering of our Trials cars became extremely stiff after running 40 or 50 miles, the stiffness seemed to go off during a nights rest or immediately fresh lubrication is put into the box, and he wished for a suggestion for preventing this trouble. We obtained the opinion of the Repair Dept. One of our Inspectors reported that Mr Gjers made an exactly similar complaint and in his opinion gear oil was not suitable, especially for the bottom bush. Mr Harkness stated that the Repair Dept. are familiar with this particular fault which is in evidence in practically every chassis, and in their opinion the stiffness has its origin in the steering pivots rather than in the box, as they have noticed that after driving fairly fast for a distance of about 20 miles or so the pivots appear to have developed a certain amount of heat, and it is a fact that after a stop of even an hour | ||