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).
Investigation and resolution of a customer's Bentley complaint regarding engine detonations and other issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 130\2\ scan0171 | |
| Date | 5th October 1936 | |
| To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} X1113 Cricklewood. Oct. 5th, 1936. Bentley Complaint. Re Ferguson's Bentley and detonations. I met Lp.{Mr Lappin} at Kingsbury this morning. The above car was there. I tried it and the detonations were very pronounced. To overcome them while on the road I retarded the ignition control half way. Upon returning to the Depot the timing was checked, which came out approximately 1" late. The actual timing of the ignition was ¾" early but we found the contact points set at .030". After making these correct the timing was correct, but as the make and break was uneven .018" on two cams and .020" on the remainder, it was decided to fit the new governor sent down for the job. This was fitted, timed and I tried the car again. At 50 MPH. detonations were fairly pronounced but by retarding the control 6 notches the detonations were practically unnoticeable. Lp.{Mr Lappin} informed me that the car was averaging 20 MPG. petrol consumption, so I arranged for a consumption test to be made and to correct the needles if necessary. There was also a complaint of high water temperature. This was observed during my tests. The average temperature was 85°C. I decided that to make this customer happy we would make the modification to the cylinder head. We are therefore stopping up the front waterways. The car will be ready for test in the morning and I have arranged to be there for it. A memo. has been despatched to Frazer Nash informing him that I shall be at Kingsbury to deal with his car. We are now awaiting his reply. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/G.W.Hancock. | ||