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).
Recurring problems and modifications for 25/30 HP Zenith carburetters.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 122\3\ scan0050 | |
| Date | 20th July 1938 | |
| 1033 N/W Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} Br1/W.20.7.38. re 25/30 h.p. Zenith Carburetters. Thank you for your Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}3/R.19.7.38, the contents of which have been carefully noted. Upon looking into the matter, I find that our previous memo, Br/G26/M.15.7.38, does not make the matter clear. Actually we have, as you will have noted from complaint reports, received many recurrent complaints of poor slow running and popping back in silencer, in spite of the fact that we have carried out every conceivable adjustment of tuning up to overcome this trouble. As a final effort we sent a carburetter to Zeniths who modified same, with the result that the slow running was better than it had ever been; also the popping in the silencer was completely eliminated, and further the starting when hot was considerably improved. After this success we sent one or two more which had been troubled similarly, and on each occasion there was a complete success and the customers have been satisfied. I do not wish you to think that we are proposing to send all carburetters for these modifications, but only those where we have received recurrent complaints after our own efforts. The shifting of the adjustment of the slow running device from the air inlet to the petrol supply appears to be a great success, and the introduction of the leather plunger type of accelerator pump undoubtedly does appear to improve acceleration and remedy flat spots, and we have been pleased to find that it does not interfere with good petrol consumption, in fact we have been inclined to think that the consumption has been improved. We feel that if all this can be achieved for a dissatisfied owner for a sum of 10/9d. it will be money well spent as, of course, we spend far more than that in endeavouring to improve matters by fine tuning, etc. May I suggest that these charges be approved so long as this does not become an epidemic. You will see that even if we deal with two carburetters weekly under this scheme the total sum involved over a year will only represent approximately £50. I might add that if we receive a car which has done a considerable mileage we have made the modification chargeable to the owner. | ||