Tests carried out on the Telegauge, starter motor, and steering systems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\2\ 02-page207 | |
| Date | 23th April 1929 | |
| X2841 53 To Hs. {Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From G.W.H. Hotel de France Chateauroux(French test region) Indre 23/4/29 Re tests carried out yesterday the 22nd. Firstly we managed to get the Telegauge working. This was fitted up with no reading showing and the petrol tank full. It operated satisfactory in pumping up the amount of petrol in the tank after aproximatly 20 miles. The reading of litres put in the tank is not quite correct. It was down by 5 litres in 45. The cement we have used is not any too good, the joint failed in our first attempt. The gauge will be kept under observation and the results will be forwarded on to you. STARTER MOTOR We are sorry to say that the starter motor is now heplesly ruined. We reported that it would not engage and since then although it has been on the car we had not attempted to use it. The report of the morning drivers is," while travelling at high speed the starter pinion suddenly engaged with a terrific noise". They imediastly stepped the engine, but the starter motor kept on revolving, volumes of smoke were issuing from the motor and main switch box. The wires had to be disconnected from the battery to prevent fire taking place. The result is, main. switch contacts burnt right out starter motor brush wires melted and generally looks as if the winding is burnt. The pinion teeth for .250" are shewed right away. The teeth on the flywheel are in a similar condition. We have not been able to trace the cause, other than the main switch operated when the ignition wire was connected up to the battery in the usual way( taken off on the road) the contacts on the motor, instead of being clear were making contact. This happened on the starter motor on 18 EX being due to the distortion of the ebonite lugs. We have not found any other faults. STEERING We tried to clear up your querry re the effect of dampers and the friction in the cross steering tube in relation to the steering. The tests have proved definitly that the dampers have steadied the steering more than increasing the load in the cross steering tube. We should say the increased friction in the cross steering tube decreased the joggles by 10% but the steading is due to the increased load of the front and rear dampers. The rear as you know makes a lot of difference and with our rear dampers set to 100lbs H & LP {Mr Lappin} the steering is very good, joggles are there, but not by any means so pronounced. With the increased friction in the cross steering tube we did find during the runs that on the left lock the steering was inclined to stick but the increased load (ie)7lbs gave a steadier feeling all round to the steering. We increased the poundage on the cross steering tube by fitting four washers behind the springs, thus increasing the initial load. | ||
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).