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).
The performance and failures of the S.U. electrical petrol pumps, radiator, and clutch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0101 | |
| Date | 9th April 1933 guessed | |
| - 8 - S.U. ELECTRICAL PETROL PUMPS. The two pumps supplied sufficient petrol during the high sustained speeds. They are definately noisy in operation. One pump failed after 8.591 miles. The failure was caused by the breaking of the two fibre rollers of the rocker gear, which takes the shock of the rocker blade. The failure of one pump does not prevent the car from being driven at a normal speed. The spare pump fitted failed through the same feature. We replaced the fibre rollers with rubber and the pumps have continued to work satisfactory. The S.U. Manufactures have explained that they have had similar failures, and found that the rollers were being made with the grain running lenghtways instead of across. RADIATOR. The water temperatures have given no cause of believing that trouble with boiling will occour, with higher air temperatures a leak developed from the bottom tank where it is machined for the anchorage at the O.S. It would appear to be weak at this point as the metal shows small cracks. It has been flooded with solder for further running. The light shell of the radiator was dented by the hitting of an owl at the apex of the radiator. This can frequently happen on the Continent. The designers may be able to strengthen the shell by the fitting of suitable stiffening stays. The movemnt of the radiator is more than usual and causes the Bonnet to knock when travelling over bad road surfaces. CLUTCH The clutch has been consistantly smooth in engagement. There has at no time been any evidence of it slipping. Wear has been neglectable. The pedal pressure may be on the heavy side for town work. We have not objected to it during our mileage. There has been no drive rattles noticeable. | ||