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).
Car performance issues regarding gears, steering, and torque reaction, with proposed experimental solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 65a\3\ scan0271 | |
| Date | 31th January 1931 | |
| -2- The gears were very good for silence but there was no easy change device. They are using the hypoid rear axle 2" off set pinion. The steering of the car was very fair. It was free from road shocks. The selectivity was not very good considering it was a car with a low centre of gravity, and for parking it was definitely heavy. The springing was fair. They were using Hydraulic dampers which they were getting specially made. The brakes were quite good in normal operation but as they were operated by a vacuum servo they have the usual known faults. The last time PN.{Mr Northey} tried one of these cars it was very bad for frame jellying. This car, although it 'Jellied' slightly, could not be criticised in that respect. After we had run the car, I mentioned to W.O. Bentley that the torque reaction on the car was very much worse than the previous six litre car. He accepted that torque reaction was one of their troubles. He did not see how it was going to be overcome with the big kicks from the six cylinder engine but he pointed out that if the car was driven with care there was no reason why it should be annoying. That is, it is entirely in the hands of the driver how much is felt. After the test PN.{Mr Northey}, E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer}, and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} all went on to St.{Capt. P. R. Strong} Albans to meet Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}, By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer}, and Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} The telegrams quoted above were then discussed in detail. - "TRY LIGHTER AND STIFFER FLYWHEEL AS LATEST CHINA" Expl. Dept are producing a Phantom flywheel with aluminium parts in order to obtain the same effect as on the 'China'. They are also carrying out immediate tests running the car on the road with half the flywheel removed "LARGE CRANKPINS MUCH LIGHTENED FOUR BALANCE WEIGHTS AS MASTER PERIOD PERMITS." Expl. Dept. are running a car fitted with twelve balance weights and they have running a large crank with large pins much lightened. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} will look into the question of design for four balance weights both for existing cranks and future cranks. "LIGHTEST POSSIBLE RODS AND PISTONS REGARDLESS OF COST" This was discussed and E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} were of the opinion that we could get very little weight off the present design. For Expl. tests it was agreed that we could get most weight off by using Magnesium piston. This will be done. | ||