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).
Tests carried out to diagnose and resolve a customer complaint of faulty steering and wobble on a Bentley.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 87\5\ scan0153 | |
| Date | 17th August 1934 | |
| x 250 Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre. France. 17th August 1934. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}E. From G.W.H. c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} c. " Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. " By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. " Ep.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} BENTLEY. With reference to the customer's complaint of faulty steering. Mr. DELACROIX of Brussels. While we were carrying out tests for springing round Paris this week-end, I tried the Paris trials car, which had a similar complaint with regard to the steering, as reported in the memo to Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Ep{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}4/Mh{M. Huckerby} 13.7.34. On the bad pavé and rough roads, the wing movement was excessive; the steering had a feel of no direction and wobbled. The whole of the steering mechanism was examined and found to be up to standard in every respect. Upon lowering the front of the car on to the ground, it was noticed that excessive bending of the OS and NS{Norman Scott} overhang of the axle took place, i.e.- from the spring anchorage to the hubs. A rough measurement showed that the track of the wheels was increased by three quarters of an inch. This bending entirely alters the traverse lean of pivot, which the steering is designed for, and when travelling over rough pavé the bending of the axle must be considerably increased, than what we could observe stationary. One of the latest strengthened axles was procured and fitted to the car, the bending of this axle is approximately 50% less in the direction of the traverse lean of pivot. The results on the road proved out that the cause of wobble and no direction was due to the excessive bending of the axle, as with the new axle fitted, the steering was good under all conditions. Sr. was perfectly satisfied with the results. This, however, has no bearing on wing movement, and did not make much improvement. The wing movement is due to frame distortion. This can, and is prevented by fitting wings that are in one with the running board, well braced and strong, such as is fitted by the Van-de-Plas coach-builders. An open touring car (trials which returned from a visit to Holland) had a body and wings fitted by these people, and over the worst conditions, the movement of the wings and head lamps was practically nil. G.W.Hancock. | ||