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).
Issue of sticking air valves and recommending solutions for recurrent complaints.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 102\1\ scan0208 | |
| Date | 5th September 1934 | |
| K585D To Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}: from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}2/KW.5.9.34. Sticking Air Valves. Replying to Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}10/R.27.8.34. We think that the only way in which we can help C. is to manufacture a few air valves similar to the one which we fitted to his car, and supply them to the worst complaint cases. Where the air valve is initially a little too tight, or where the cylinder in which it works may have been slightly distorted by over-tightening the ring retaining nut, we agree that once the air valve has been free it is not so likely to stick a second time. The way of treating such cases is of course common knowledge in our Repair Dept. and they can issue a Depot Sheet. It is however not practicable to increase the clearance of an ordinary air valve sufficiently to ensure that it cannot seize up due to foreign matter. Therefore we recommend that ordinary cases of air valves sticking should be dealt with in the normal manner, and cases of recurrent complaint, which in our experience are due to exceptional operating conditions or habitual neglect on the part of the operator, should have the experimental air valve Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}1224. This has now run a further 3,000 miles on your own and other experimental cars. The Repair Dept. inform us that air valves which habitually stick are few and far between. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||