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).
Report diagnosing and resolving a steering lubrication issue on vehicle 24-EX compared to 23-EX.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\3\ 03-page219 | |
| Date | 19th July 1930 guessed | |
| -4- radiator, and the least possible obstruction to the air inside the bonnet. Re the tiring of the steering after a long run. The trouble experienced on 24-EX is not an isolated case, and I have come to the conclusion that it is all a question of lubrication. On 23-EX, which gave no trouble in this respect, the ball ends of the cross steering tube were throughout the test very well lubricated. It would appear that if the supply of oil to the ball ends is diminished by a slight leak in the bijur system, or that the supply is less due to the stand pipe in the stub axle which acts as a bijur allowing less oil to pass, the lubrication of the ball ends is not sufficient, and after a long run the supply of oil has not been adequate to keep up the lubrication of the ball ends which then tend to seize up. This is the reason of the trouble with 24-EX. There has not been the quantity of oil supplied to the ball ends as was the case on 23-EX. There is the question of slight differences in the grooves in the pads of the contacts. We found on 24-EX that these varied in depth, which meant that the reservoir was cut down of oil. We also found a slight leak of oil coming from the banjo fitted on the front o/s spring supplying the front axle. We have not found any other inaccuracies as regards the ball ends or the pads. We have entirely cured the trouble by making the small reservoirs of oil in the pads as reported to you, and we think this scheme should be adopted to overcome any variance in the supply of oil, so that there would be a sufficient reservoir of oil for long distance work. It is also important to watch that the grooves in the pads are milled the | ||