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).
Faults and poor performance of the No. 6 Goshawk car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan415 | |
| Date | 16th October 1922 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. BJ. c. to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} PN.{Mr Northey} c. to BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X4086 RE. NO. 6 GOSHAWK X.4086. X.4219. It is not that the performance of No.6 Goshawk is thought to be less vigorous than other Goshawk cars, but my impression is that we must do all we can to make these 20 HP. chassis faster by increasing the power of the engine if it is at all possible. No.6. Goshawk has faults compared with No.4. as I have pointed out. You say the riding is not as good as standard through having specially vigorous shock dampers. I think also that the springs are somewhat stiffer. You will remember also that the back axle is not particularly silent owing to the over-run being different to the drive. I do not think it is getting worse, but it is still there. There are also many fittings that rattle, for instance, there is a knock between the front splasher and part of the bonnet strip, the upper glass of the windscreen is not rigidly suspended (flexibility in the frame of the glass) and is absolutely dangerous. While mentioning these points I should be glad to know whether you are using "Triplex" glass, and if not, why not? This particular upper glass vibrates so much on a rough road that one fears it might break, partly due to the harsh springs, and partly the shock absorbers. Regarding the radiator this wants fitting with the proper front shutters as the weather already cools the water too much. At the moment the engine will not start on the switch because the contact maker was set for very long makes and short breaks, and the ignition was timed too early for good slow running. The throttle controls were wrongly set, the rods being the wrong length, owing partly to the alteration to the angle of the butterfly,valve (new rods requisitioned but not yet forthcoming). You will see therefore there are enough points about this particular car to spoil one's impression of it. We have now taken most of the points in hand here by local help but they should have not left Derby incorrectly and misleadingly arranged. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||