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).
Letter detailing performance feedback on a Bentley after a 1600-mile rally, noting issues with clutch judder and carburettor flooding.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0040 | |
| Date | 29th May 1934 | |
| COPY. Iliffe & Sons, Ltd., Dorset House, Tudor Street, E.C.4. 29th May, 1934. W.M. Cowen, Esq., Messrs. Bentley Motors Ltd., 16, Conduit Street, W.1. Dear Mr. Cowen, I have just returned from the Scottish Rally after covering 1600 miles on the Bentley and the car throughout behaved splendidly, save in minor respects, and I am passing on this information as it may be of some assistance to you. For instance, (1) The clutch is apt to judder a lot when starting from rest, but there seems to be no royal rule as to when the clutch decides to judder, because, on occasions, the car will move off quite smoothly. (2) I suggest that something will have to be done about the carburetters because of their tendency to flood. You will remember that I told you of an instance when there was a strong smell of petrol and we never discovered the cause. Since that time I have had four different instances of a similar smell, to find that the needle of the carburetter has failed to find its seat and petrol has been gushing out of one or other of them. Apparently the fact of the engine running does not cause the needle, which is of the inverted type as you know, to find its seating, and the only cure is to stop on the road, lift the bonnet, and press the plungers until it is cured. This is rather annoying, as you will agree, besides giving a bad impression, although the trouble is not important in itself. I am wondering if a guide at the bottom end of the needle would assist it to seat itself properly? The trouble is not confined to one of the carburetters, as both of them in turn have caused the trouble at different times. During the Rally I had on board with me Mr. G.H. Cutbush, the Editor of "The Motor World". He seemed highly delighted with the performance of the car, and certainly my opinion of it has gone up, which is saying a good deal. The mileage is now 3,600 and I can say definitely that the car is running better than when it was new. Going up to Scotland I was astonished to find that on a mileage of 283, I used 14 gallons of spirit, though of course, the Great North Road is favourable with regard to petrol consumption. | ||