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).
Failures of radiator, steering gear, and spring components during testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 119\2\ scan0232 | |
| Date | 17th December 1924 | |
| R.R. 493A (50H) (D.B. 175 25-9-24) J.H.D. -2- EXPERIMENTAL REPORT. Expl. No. REF. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/CP/LG17.12.24. Radiator. No signs of leakage. Shutters rattling rather badly, otherwise radiator O.K. No signs of failure of suspension. The top stay (attaching radiator to dashboard) appears to be too weak for the load imposed on it, as it continues to break. The last stay to break, however, lasted 75½ hrs. These stays always break at the end pieces at the point A, shewn in sketch. Steering gear. The failure of the steering column after 137 hrs. 42 mins. is probably rather premature. We have experienced only two failures at this point on standard 40/50. chassis - the first after only 17½ hrs., the second after 169 hrs. 6 mins. Front springs - locating piece. These locating pieces (F.{Mr Friese} 71955) appear to be too weak at the locating slot which fits over locating piece on front axle, as they usually crack as shewn in sketch. We have had five failures during the first 139 hrs. of test - the average life being 29 hrs. 35 mins. Road spring failures. Average life to date. 12 springs broken, giving an average life of 21 hrs. 15 mins. Slight improvement on the average life of the first 8 springs (20 hrs. 21 mins.) The two last springs in the following list (Nos. 036 and 037) are a new type Firths (F.70880/1), having only eight leaves. The life of these springs shews no improvement on the previous type. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/CP. | ||