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).
Issues with a spare wheel carrier, petrol consumption test results, and a water pump fault.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page147 | |
| Date | 2nd December 1931 | |
| To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rs.{Sir Henry Royce's Secretary} From G.W.H. LES.{Ivan A. Leslie} XS840. 16.C.IV. Hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. 2/12/31. RE. SUPPORT FOR SIDE SPARE WHEEL CARRIER. Re. the memo from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Les.{Ivan A. Leslie} We tried the internal scheme only for holding the spare wheel, whilst at Derby, and it was decided that the spare wheel was not steady enough with this scheme, and it was decided to use the external stay as well. This report has come at an opportune moment as we were going to give you a report upon the side spare wheel carrier. The two schemes combined are not satisfactory as we have lately noticed the spare wheel movement has increased and upon investigation, it was found that the external stay fastened on the dash has fidgeted about and elongated the holes drilled in the dash, and the bracket moves about sideways approx. .125". We do not, of course, know whether these holes were a dead size for the bolts in the first place and can only surmise that they were so, but it is evident that the internal stay is not sufficient. It was agreed at Derby that had we two spare wheels, one at either side, the internal scheme would be satisfactory as they balance one another up. We think that it is quite possible to make a good job of the outer stay as it is not necessary to have a plain strip of steel from the dash to the top of the horn of the bracket. To look at this stay in plan, it could be made a horse-shoe shape and still retain the rigidity, and not interfere with opening and closing of the bonnet. RE. PETROL CONSUMPTION TESTS. YOU REQUESTED US TO CARRY OUT. We have obtained these figures for you, the results being as follows - 50 M.P.H........... 18.25 M.P.G. 40 M.P.H........... 21.5 M.P.G. 30 M.P.H........... 21.5 M.P.G. These figures were taken with an english half gallon of petrol, so there is no question of inaccuracy due to using litres. RE. WATER PUMP. We are again reporting upon this as we think that the situation calls for investigation work. The results are remarkable. We can, since attending to the pump as stated, run under normal conditions and not get a rise in the water temperature, but when the engine is idling in the shop at the lowest possible revs, with the ignition set half retard, there is practically no flow of water and the temperature immediately starts to build up until the red lamp glows, a temperature of | ||