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).
Optimal friction load settings and issues for the cross steering tube.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 95\1\ scan0507 | |
| Date | 4th November 1938 | |
| 350 To Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer}4/MH.{M. Huckerby}4.11.38. PH.III STEERING - CROSS STEERING TUBE FRICTION. With reference to the attached memo Rob.18/17.10.38, we know of no reason why the friction load of the cross steering tubes should not be set at 6 lbs. apart from the heaviness of the steering and the fact that it will very soon fall to 3 1/2 - 4 lbs. In our opinion a setting exceeding 3 1/2 lbs. results in an impossibly heavy steering. The load will soon fall because the springs go choc-a bloc at a setting of about 4 lbs. so that a very small amount of wear will rapidly relieve the load on the ball pads until the setting falls to 4 lbs. We see no reason why 3 1/2 lbs. should be insufficient for Belgian pave roads provided this load is maintained. We suspect that the rapid loss of load experienced on chassis 3.AX.103 was due to the upper ball pad sticking in the housing and not being pushed down by the spring as the spherical surfaces settled down with running. It is to prevent this that we recommend that the interior of the housing adjacent to the upper ball pad should be polished. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/FJH.{Fred J. Hardy - Chief Dev. Engineer} | ||