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).
Test drive report detailing performance issues with a Phantom II - 28-EX vehicle.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 139\2\ scan0229 | |
| Date | 8th April 1935 | |
| [Handwritten top left] X3117 [Handwritten top right] Ry Bowering - What is wrong with these jacks? Ru [Handwritten middle right] File To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} ----------- c. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Wst. By/RB.{R. Bowen} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/TD. ----------- re Phantom 2 - 28-EX. I drove the above car 230 miles yesterday, the first half of this at an average of 46 m.p.h.. The maximum speed obtainable on Holyhead Road was 87½ m.p.h. Whereas we usually have a big margin of road damping on the Phantom the dampers on 28-EX do not seem to be working very much. Possibly there is an experimental modification being tried on this car. The electric starter failed to operate three times during the week-end on account of the main current coming on before engagement of the starter pinion is effected. The only remedy is to move the engine to a fresh position with the starting handle. This is an old fault of 28-EX that I remember before and has also occurred as a production epidemic. There is ample movement available and we ought to arrange more time before the main switch comes in. I tried the hydraulic jacks yesterday, and although they raise either end of the car with delightful ease they refuse to stay up and soon let the car down on its wheels again, before there is time to change a wheel. Presumably there is a one way non-return valve for each end of the car in the pump box, but both of these must be leaking. As the whole success of this scheme is dependent on these control valves it is very necessary that they should be reliable. We are developing a hydraulic jack scheme for SpectreCodename for Phantom III, and we should, therefore, like to know why 28-EX does not function. The brake servo on 28-EX, which has just been re-lined squealed continuously at the beginning of the run and still squeals when applied. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} | ||