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).
Complaint of flooding and difficult starting with a hot engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\5\ scan0031 | |
| Date | 8th April 1938 | |
| COPY. Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GR.{George Ratcliffe} SECRET. c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GR.{George Ratcliffe}1/AP.8.4.38. WXA-1. Report on complaint of flooding and difficult starting with hot engine. The car was tested during a run out from London. No difficulty was experienced at all when starting the engine while hot, after standing 10 to 15 minutes. On the contrary, the engine started up rather better than the average, taking 1½ to 3½ seconds. The carburetter was then examined for flooding with the floatchamber lid{A. J. Lidsey} removed. The float itself was out of alignment in the chamber having only .010" clearance on the front side and a very small amount of dirt was observed locally round the seating. The chamber was syringed out, needle and seat examined O.K., and the float straightened up. Tested again several times over 15 and 20 minutes for flooding, without any tendency to fail. The fact that the engine started up when hot rather better than the average, pointed to temporary flooding occurring. This was found to be the case by disconnecting the ignition lead on the ballast resistance and turning the engine over by the starter motor with the petrol pumps in action. A temporary increase of .200" in the fuel level was immediately created by the torque reaction of compressions on the engine mounting. The float movement being in line with the engine torque caused the fuel to be displaced sufficiently to allow the needle off its seating momentarily. This problem is being investigated further in conjunction with delayed starting when hot. The fuel level was finally set .750" instead of the standard .625" as a temporary relief. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GR.{George Ratcliffe} | ||