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).
Gearbox failures, tyre performance, and pivot tightening issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\3\ scan0178 | |
| Date | 28th May 1941 | |
| -2- 5. Gearbox Failures. I would not like to say anymore about this until we have run the final box which we are hoping to standardise for production and which has no overdrive. We have, however, learned quite a bit from the Bentley chassis which is being used as a lorry. This shows that if the weight on a B.V. chassis is increased to 2 1/2 tons, bottom gear will only last about 25,000 miles even with the six cylinder engine. On the other hand, the same gear with normal Bentley use is good for an almost indefinite mileage. The worse feature of our rationalized box was the needle bearing on the cluster gear shaft. 6. Tyres. The Dunlop and Avon tyre combination which you mentioned is far from being a standard on experimental cars. At the moment, we are gradually taking the squeal out of the Avon tyres. The India tyres give plenty of cornering ability, but groan badly at high speeds. They are free from squeal. 7. Tightening up of Pivots. We are investigating this, but it does not occur on the rationalized design if lubrication gets to the pivots. I think that you should arrange to spend at least a [handwritten above: day a] month with us on motor cars, as your experience is too valuable to ignore. Also, you will then be "Au fait" with our troubles when you come back to the fold after the war. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||