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).
Troubles experienced with a car's engine during a 9,000-mile run.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 101\2\ scan0220 | |
| Date | 1st January 1937 | |
| 505a Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} from Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/HFH.{Hoppy F. Hamilton} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Mx.{John H Maddocks - Chief Proving Officer} Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} HPS.{Horace Percy Smith - Experimental Factory Mgr} 22.G.V. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/GWH{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}/HPH3/R.1.1.37. The car has completed a total of 38,923 miles including 10,000 miles in England. The following is a report on the troubles experienced, and general running during the last 9,000 miles of the above total mileage:- ENGINE. This unit was fitted after 10,000 miles had been completed in England. At 23,850 miles a new deturbulated head was fitted, together with K.E.965 exhaust valves and ss{S. Smith}/lv inlet valves. After 6624 miles had been run with this head No. 5 cylinder exhaust valve stuck open. On examination it was found that carbon had formed on one side of the stem while the other side showed signs of having picked up. The stem was cleaned up and the valve in question was run a further 8449 miles without any trouble. Before carrying out cylinder head comparative tests, the deturbulated head was removed and the valves were lapped in. The exhaust seats were found to be in a particularly bad condition, and it was necessary to recut the seats before a satisfactory bedding could be obtained. The cleaning of the seats revealed two fine cracks across the seats of Nos. 10 and 11. This was not serious and the head was therefore reassembled and fitted. The remainder of the mileage was run with this head, and no trouble was experienced due to these fractures. The test of 7,000 miles was run with Champion porcelain (I.B.10) plugs fitted. These gave no trouble and the gap settings were unaltered, and only varied from .018" - .023" during the running. The engine started up readily under all conditions, but on two occasions after the car had been standing in the un-heated garage for approximately, 12 hours, starting was found | ||