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).
Typed letter discussing vehicle testing issues including rear springing, oil pump performance, and speed.
Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\9\ 09-page197 | |
Date | 15th April 1926 | |
X58409 Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre. April, 15th 1926. To Mr. Hives. From G.W.H. IO G.III. We have received your letter of the 12-4-26. The rear springing of this car is certainly very flexible, you can set the rear bouncing with no exertion what so ever. You will see by my complete report that I have delt with the wheel dampers. We shall await further instructions from you re this matter. With refferance to the oil pump we have stated in the previous report that we were going to try the original pump that was on the car. Our pressure drops upon braking the car but immediately picks up as we gather speed. We have since overhauling the pump refitted it and our results are almost identical to our previous results. It will not build up for some considerable time after we have applied the brakes. We have improved it by attending to the release valve so we do get our maximum pressure. We are to day pluging up the small holes in the bottom of the teeth; the results of this we will let you know later on. It has been necessary to hold up the car this afternoon owing to the exhaust pipe flange breaking off. This an other item which the drawing office attention should be brought to bear on, as this breakage happened two or three times on the last car out here. We are having made a flange turned out of the solid with a view to reenforce the pipe at this joint. With regard to the battery box failure, we have endeavoured in our full report to make it clear, if this is not so we shall be pleased to give further particulars. With regard to running the car with ballast, we have been using a ballast of approx. 112 Lbs in the rear. We are of opinion that the car rides steadier with this than without it. But we shall adhere to your instructions. As regards the speed of the car, we are sorry that a stop watch is not available. We have checked the speed of the car at 60 M.P.H. and from the second hand of our watch, the speedometer err's on the slow side rather than on the fast side. We have been agreeably surprised at the speed that the car will do. On Sunday last with a slight following wind I obtained over 70 M.P.H., but at this speed the valves are bouncing very badly. We at Chateauroux were sorry to hear of the untimely end of Mr. Claude Johnson and wish to convey our sympathy along with the works. G.W. Hancock. | ||