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).
Handling of quarterly complaints and specific issues like silencer popping, servo efficiency, and damper knocks.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 130\2\ scan0242 | |
| Date | 28th October 1936 | |
| GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} (Cricklewood). From Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 1113 Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}12/MJ.28.10.36. Thanks for your various notes. I have had a talk to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re. Quarterly Complaints and he agrees that it is no use the Repair Dept. in Derby collecting all the information and then circulating it in a form which does not convey an accurate picture of the troubles as they exist. We know there are reasons why Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} has kept complaints quiet in the past but we have now got to ensure that the existing machinery is used to the best advantage and if necessary supplement this machinery so that we get exactly what we want. I am therefore arranging to go over the Quarterly Complaint lists with Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} and yourself to see where they are inaccurate or incomplete. I am going to try and do this one day next week. Popping in the Silencer 25/30 HP. We note your remarks. Fisher says that the trouble on Daimlers was traced to a hot spot in the cylinder head. I have never heard of this before and it seems improbable. However, we do know that the 25/30 exhaust valves do run hot and we are about to Standardise another head where they are cooler. We are running some tests on this head and they will be completed in two or three days, after which we may hand the head over to you to try on a customer's car where the trouble is acute. Servo Efficiency. We may be able to think of something to test servo efficiency quickly. At the present moment we use spring balances which take a lot of fitting up. Personally, I should consider the best thing to do with these inefficient brakes is to fit a pair of 35° cams. This would be very much less costly than pulling the servo to pieces relining it and putting it together again and would give the customer some lasting benefit. 35° cams are now Standard on the 25/30. I am getting out some costs of the cams for you and also finding out whether the old cams can be converted to 35° and used again. Hydraulic Damper Knocks. I should be inclined to agree with you that if knocks did not occur until 30,000 miles have been covered then the owner might be expected to pay. The guarantee is of course a delicate matter and when a man pays £1,500 for a 25 HP. car it is necessary to interpret the guarantee somewhat generously. | ||