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).
Endurance test report on electrical starter units, detailing a 40,000 cycle push-button test.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2July1929-December1929\ Scan152 | |
| Date | 13th November 1929 | |
| EFC2/AD13.11.29 contd. -2- Reverting to the endurance test of the electrical units, my assistant's report WD.{Mr Wood/Mr Whitehead}87. on this contains the following :- "The test consisted of starting up by means of the normal operation of depressing the push button 40,000 times which represents, assuming an average of one start per mile run of the car, 40,000 miles running. The push button was conveniently mechanically operated and the crankshaft suitably loaded by means of a brake. A small counter connected to the operating mechanism automatically recorded the number of times the push button was depressed. The starter system functioned satisfactorily throughout the test and pinion jamming on first engagement was surprisingly infrequent. An examination of the three electrical units viz. push button switch, main and auxiliary switch and starter motor, revealed their condition to be entirely satisfactory. The main switch coppers shewed signs of burning, but not abnormal or excessive, and the push button contacts were only slightly marked. The starter motor, with the exception of brush dust accumulation, was O.K." We purposely have considered, of no great importance, the condition of the pinion and gear wheel teeth after this test, because in view of the fact of the | ||