Report discussing complaints of engine explosions in the Phantom model, potential causes related to driver habits, and comparisons to the Silver Ghost.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan353 | |
| Date | 18th October 1926 guessed | |
| 2. scheme, is not very helpful. It is extremely difficult to make the best of the present scheme and no driver should be allowed to try. In Hs {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} 's report much mention is made of the tendency which used to be very prevalent amongst inexperienced or careless drivers, of allowing their foot to rest slightly on the accelerator pedal. Naturally any driver doing this ran the risk of slightly opening even a throttle which will really close. The large majority of the experienced drivers used to the Silver Ghost(1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial) who complain of explosions on their Phantoms are far and above making any mistake of this kind and can be relied upon to become convinced that explosions take place on the Phantom when their foot is nowhere near the pedal at all. Very little importance therefore, in judging this complaint, should be attached to this point. It is further stated in the report, that even if the throttle is definitely closed, the only explosions which can occur are controlled by the slight amount of petrol remaining in the induction system after the throttle has been closed and that this will be responsible for two or three explosions at the most. In traffic driving in the London District where there are a large number, probably the majority of New Phantom(Codename for PHANTOM I)s, the throttle is likely to beopened and closed in many streets as often as once in every 50 yards. The fact at three explosions after each closing are bound to occur is of very serious importance indeed. From the report ( page 4) one would gather that explosions in the silencer are not found on new production chassis but that cars return to the Repair Department with the complaint after considerable use. CWB. will be able to give views on this point. He is abroad at the moment, but he told me yesterday that he turned down a new car he was trying that day. Further, the complaint of explosions is one of the first that owners make after taking delivery. There have been six complaints in the last 6 weeks without counting any that have been received by W. or H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} I will not go into the question as to which, if any, of the experiments mentioned to get over the trouble, should be proceeded with but I would like to remark that any device which further upsets the slow running of the New Phantom(Codename for PHANTOM I) engine, which already compares unfavourably with the Silver Ghost(1907 40/50 historic RAC 15,000 miles trial), or any device which adds to the petrol consumption should not be considered at all. H. {Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} | ||
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).