Vehicle issues including an engine knock, spring drive load, spark plug performance, and clutch fabric wear.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\4\ 04-page045 | |
| Date | 8th May 1932 | |
| x7941. To Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From G.W.H. Hotel de France, Chateauroux(French test region), FRANCE. May 8th 1932. 19-EX. We had to hold the car up yesterday afternoon, as a knock developed in the front of the engine which we thought was in the timing case. We dismantled the front and during our investigation found that the dynamo fabric drive had a considerable amount of slack in it. Upon closer observation it was found that the drive had elongated the holes in the fabric, as our sketch of yesterday shows. We could not find any other reason for the knock. We took the opportunity to examine the low inertia spring drive with the Ferodo fabrics fitted. The load had dropped from 18 lbs to 12 lbs. The thickness of the fabrics had lost approx .004", but we are of the opinion that the load had dropped due to smoothing out process. The metal friction plates were in a very good condition, and showed no traces of scoring. The fabrics were in a good condition except that the inner edge was inclined to break away in small pieces. They are not located and should be. We have brought the load up by fitting .060" washers under the springs. Further running will prove the consistency of the job. SPARKING PLUGS. We are sorry that we did not mention that we had tried both C. and C.3 plugs, but neither plugs have been satisfactory. We can definitely keep out of any serious preignition by using one ignition only. It does not make any appreciable difference whether battery or magneto. We will send you the plugs we have used. We thank you for your memo. Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} /Rml/MJ6.5.32. We will fit the push-rods as soon as they arrive. Re. memo from Leslie just received. We fitted the gauge a week ago, and have already given you reports upon the behaviour of same. RE. CLUTCH FABRICS. We appear to have had more than normal wear, up to the present mileage, of the clutch fabrics, making it necessary to readjust the clutch fingers. It seems to have settled down this last day or so, the pedal having come up 1/16" in a thousand miles, therefore it may not, possibly, give us any further trouble. We are carefully making note of it. G.W.H. | ||
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).