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).
The reliability and quietness of an experimental engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 148\2\ scan0099 | |
| Date | 28th November 1938 | |
| -6- (f) Reliability. The engine, although only in an experimental stage, never had any basic mechanical breakdown. Oil seals of the 'Perfect' type were inclined to fail in the front end of the crankshaft due to the blower pressure. The sparking plugs were short lived - 15 hrs. when the engine was running on full throttle. However no durability test had been given to the engine and it is therefore impossible to say to what extent the engine really was free from mechanical failures. (g) Quietness. The engine is mechanically extremely quiet, save for a very slight supercharger whine. This quietness is due to the absence of valves and their operating mechanism. However there was always in evidence a certain amount of exhaust noise always associated with 2 cycle engines. ************** | ||