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).
Component failures on experimental car 23-EX, including tappet wear, and a road test comparison with car 24-EX.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\3\ 03-page095 | |
Date | 11th May 1930 | |
B To: Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. [Handwritten Top Center]: By mailed By [Handwritten Top Right]: Please return HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hôtel de France, Châteauroux, Indre. 11/5/30. [Stamped]: RECEIVED 14 MAI 1930 Re 23-EX. the bad valve tappet noise you heard whilst in Paris on 23-EX we found to be caused by excessive wear of the pad of the tappet. We had eventually to again dismantle the cylinder head and lift the cylinder block to change the tappet. As reported in our 5,000 mile report, the condition of the camshaft is very bad. This also applies to the pads of the tappets. Evidently the steel is not suitable, or it may be caused by the Shell lubricating oil. We however got the valve quite quiet after fitting a new tappet. It was not necessary to fit a new guide. During the run from Paris to Châteauroux, we have broken the accumulator box supporting lug which is brazed to the cross member. This is the second failure of the battery box supports: firstly the angular bracket broke on the box, now the lug on the cross member has broken. We also found the spring broken in the rear n/s shock damper connecting link. This was broken in several places, we have fitted it up solid, and shall make the o/s likewise. On running from Paris to Châteauroux, I drove 24-EX, and should positively say that for riding qualities it is easily 50% better than what 23-EX is. I did not find any excessive steering joggles compared with 23-EX. Of the two cars 23-EX is the worst. The exhaust trouble on 23-EX, as pointed out to you, we have found to be due to the bolts being pulled out of the aluminium thread in the first expansion box. These are 5/16" studs reduced to 1/4". We are fitting [Handwritten Notes in Left Margin]: If we are using shell mineral oil then I think this has caused bearing wear & the fault By have strengthened in for production By have altered des to meet By | ||