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).
10,000-mile test report on the performance of vehicle components AI & IV.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\4\ 04-page176 | |
| Date | 14th December 1934 | |
| [Handwritten, top left] H/Eng. .NOT Sould C.S. FD{Frank Dodd - Bodies} @ Wym{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager} L.S.O. std b&& 7JH 7JH C.T.S. Wst. Wst. Bug Bz [Typed, left] To Messrs. From SGH.{Sir Stanley Hooker} C. C. Mr. C. C. Mr. C. C. Mr. HJ. [Handwritten, left margin] Wymans Ed{J. L. Edwards} Smith SML [in purple ink] [Typed, top right] Hotel de France, Chateauroux. Indre. France. 14th December 1934. [Typed, centered, underlined] REPORT ON AI & IV. 10,000 MILES. [Typed, underlined] ENGINE UNIT. - C.14 [Typed] The engine power and acceleration has been up to standard performance. On the Montlhéry track, an average speed of 74.07 MPH. was obtained for five laps. At speeds over 70 M.P.H. it has been rough and, at the beginning of the mileage, was on the rough side at lower speeds. It has smoothed out by running. The torque reaction period was very noticeable at first. The fitting of a friction damper between the cylinder head and dashboard has eliminated this period. With the engine idling, pulsations could be felt in the two front seats, whether the engine was running or not. This has been cured by fitting the damper. On the road, the engine was quieter than similar cars tried in Paris. There was an outstanding tappet noise. When idling, a dry metallic sound is heard from the timing gears, also the uneven note of the side shaft gears and the clutch trunion ball race. The petrol pump is very noisy. The air silencer to the carburetter has again given trouble. The rivets work loose holding the down pipe of the silencer at the joint to the silencer. The flange is too weak and the rivet heads are too small to hold against the soft metal. [Typed, underlined] CYLINDERS AND HEAD. LHU.4034 VALVES AND FITTINGS LOP. R.35577 STANDARD. [Typed] There has been no trouble with the cylinder head. With the exception of one valve being noisy, the valves have been quiet and have retained their clearances. The valves dismantled are in a good condition, but the exhaust valves have again hammered into the bottom of the seats, causing a ridge. The bore should be larger in diameter. The cylinder bores are in a good condition, they have been over-lubricated. [Typed, underlined] PISTONS. LOP. R.913 - MS.1899 ROAD TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AL2X; N°16544/R.{Sir Henry Royce} [Typed] The pistons at the beginning of the mileage were over-oiling and smoke issued from the exhaust. This ceased as the mileage increased. We have not heard any knocks, either hot or cold. Examination shows the bellying to be on the tight side at the top of the skirt; hardly showing at the bottom. No distortion appears to have taken place. The ring stops do not show any faults. Piston rings are free in the grooves. No slack can be felt in the gudgeon pin bushes. Carbon deposit is on the heavy side. | ||