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).
Testers' detail report after a 15,000 miles continental road test of a Silver Phantom.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 109\4\ scan0199 | |
| Date | 10th August 1939 | |
| 666a. To. By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. MX.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} c. GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} c. All Testers. CHATEAUROUX. S./10.8.39. 30.G.VII. - SILVER PHANTOM. Testers' Detail Report After 15,000 miles Continental Road Test. ENGINE. Continues smooth, quiet, and free from vibration periods. Oil pressure maintained after alteration to relief valve spring to give 40 lbs. at maximum speed. Continues to start readily cold except when choke sticks open. Hot starting exceptionally good. Hunts idling cold on choke, causing shaking, this is due to choke being slightly sluggish opening. Idles evenly when choke is fully open. Slow running good, occasional misfires on pick-up after long slow run. No misfires on pick-up after just slowing down to idling speed. Flat spot on slow medium throttle from 10-28 m.p.h. and on quick small opening, sometimes pops back. The carburetter pump was examined and the movement of the floating bye-pass valve was restricted in an attempt to make it come into action sooner, this had no effect on flat spot. Engine gears are good, there only being a little sing which is nearly drowned by fan noise; this is only audible standing in front of radiator. Fan noise not noticeable when driving. One tappet can be heard starting cold but soon disappears, can also be heard hot idling but not on every occasion. This is probably the result of hammering which occurred while running with a faulty push-rod, which was soft and wore very quickly. It was replaced and gave no further trouble. Exhaust tappets have maintained the original setting and only slight alteration to inlet tappets. They are generally quiet. Distributor became noisy, can be heard idling standing by car, dismantled everything O.K. No appreciable oil leaks. Rocker cover joint has shrunk again although disturbed very little. Thicker tappet door joints fitted at Chateauroux have been more satisfactory. Air silencer cleaned and oiled, as instructed on label. Occasionally, bad detonation on "Tourisme" but | ||