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).
Condition report on various vehicle components after testing, including steering, dampers, and wings.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\2\ 02-page049 | |
| Date | 6th July 1908 guessed | |
| -6- STEERING COLUMN & BOX, CROSS STEERING TUBE, SIDE STEERING TUBE TO LOP. F55944 & TYPE. The steering at first was not too good for road shocks, self centering was O.K. and the steering was positive. It has improved with the mileage and we should now consider the shocks from the steering wheel normal. The car has been run with a higher tyre pressure in the front tyres to steady the front of the car. This has certainly had a bearing on the steering. The steering box is oil tight, no replenishments have been necessary. The pendulum lever has remained firm, the lubrication of the ball ends has been ample. There has been no undue oscillation of the steering column. The side steering tube ball ends and cross steering tube ball ends have been well lubricated, no deterioration of the load on cross steering tube has taken a place. FRONT & REAR SHOCK DAMPERS TO LOP. F55965 LOP. F55944. The dampers are still in good condition. The front had knocked slightly, the cause being the low pressure valve sticking in the guide. The rear shock damper links were knocking at the bottom, the pad not being adjusted unto the ball end. These have not after adjustment given any trouble. The n/s rear damper oil leaked out of the lever bearing, the others have been O.K. The poundage of the front dampers when examined was 30/30 instead of 60/40. The rear was 50/40 instead of 60/40. The dampers were topped up with oil when the car first arrived and no further oil has been added or needed. The ball ends were well lubricated when examined. BATTERY BOX & FITTINGS. TO LOP. F54854. The battery has needed very little distilled water and after dynamo output had been raised there has been no shortage of available current. The box and anchorage were quite sound when examined. WINGS, WING STAYS, etc. TO LOP. F60778. We have never had a worst set of front wings and stays on any car that has run 10.000 miles in France. The front wings are made of the weakest material that is possible to make wings out of. They did not run 200 miles before being cracked at the rear end where attached to running boards. It is a mistake to attach wings to running boards. We have never found them to stand up. The wings have literally dropped to pieces and cracked all over. The wing stays at a mileage of 2000. not one lug was left whole. We cannot understand the policy of altering the design that was incorporated after many tests obtained from 10.000 miles tests. We obtained a stay after many tests that was satisfactory. We have had the stays welded up and made in a box-section up to the anchorage of the head lamps. The stays have since given no trouble, and the head lamps could be attached to them. It was necessary to take the head lamps off in the first instance to try and save the stays. The rear wings are very little better, and have pulled out chunks of metal where the screws attach them to the bodywork. SUBFRAME TO LOP. F60704. This appears to be O.K. We have not found any flaws or deterioration. The anchorage of the subframe has remained firm. CONTROLS. The controls of the steering column have rattled throughout the test. It is impossible to see from the driver's seat whether you are opening or shutting the radiator shutters. The accelerator pedal control is much too heavy and tires the foot. REAR SPARE WHEEL CARRIER TO LOP. F58606. This has been satisfactory and is still in a good condition. | ||