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).
Car performance issues related to potential vapour locks and pump diaphragm leaks in hot weather.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 101\2\ scan0021 | |
| Date | 1st July 1936 | |
| E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} C'tsg } X500a HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/IMW{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}/4/JAB. 1st July. 1936. To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c to. G.W.H. Herewith more information on this subject, which is rather different to that originally received. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 22. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} V.{VIENNA} Re. Your memo. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}15/KW.29/6/36. We regret that you have been misinformed by Hamilton that this car is as bad for vapour locks as 32.EX. We have not even proved that we have suffered from vapour locks at all, and do not think this is the case. We reported weakness & failure of pumps during the hot weather and subsequently that we had found the pump diaphragms leaking. This leak was mostly from one side to the other via the stud holes round the edge, hence the fact that it was not immediately obvious. We think that the hot weather quite likely had some effect in aggravating the effect of the leak. We have examined and carefully refitted the diaphragms, and the trouble has not occurred again as yet. We can now only wait for another spell of really hot weather. Our weakness on the road was only of a slight and occasional nature, and unless it occurs again we can only say that we think it was all due to the pumps trouble. Under these circumstances, you will see that we cannot at present give you any definite comparisons of susceptibility to vapour lock of French petrols. ------------------ GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} Jack. Waller. | ||