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).
Bentley car test in France, discussing a piston knock and road-holding performance issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0263 | |
| Date | 14th October 1933 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} From Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to O.{Mr Oldham} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} met C.W.Hancock at Orleans and tried the Bentley car in France. He fixed up with Hancock that they should have a look at the pistons because one had developed a knock. The car has completed 5,000 miles. We have heard from C.W.Hancock that some of the pistons have closed in on the skirts but there are no signs of cracks. Until we have had a chance of examining the pistons and measuring them up it is difficult to decide what is the trouble. We propose sending out to Hancock another set of standard pistons as fitted to the 15 cars and get the others returned. It is interesting to note that the Trials Car which was sent out to the Paris Show established a wonderful reputation for road holding and springing. Hancock found that with the same springs and similar setting for the shock absorbers that the car bounced about a lot at high speeds. This illustrates the necessity of having some form of adjustable damping. After the Olympia Show we think it will be a good scheme to check up the mileage on each of the Trials Cars and just have a short run on them to see what faults, if any, have developed. The average results of a number of cars is very valuable. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||