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).
Repeated oil pressure failures, a collapsing battery box, and general vehicle performance during testing in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\9\ 09-page194 | |
| Date | 9th April 1926 | |
| 45840a Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. April, 9th-1926. To "H.S." From G.W.H. I O.G.III. _ _ _ _ _ We sent the car yesterday to Paris for a new Exide battery, and left the damaged one to be repaired. On the run back our oil pressure was continually failing, the maximum pressure was 15,Lbs. This oil pump brought over and fitted in Paris does not seem as efficient as the one fitted previously to the car. As we are holding the car up for an examination we shall dismantle the pump and endeavour to find out the cause of our repeated oil failure. We have from time to time removed the hard spots from the release valve stem but this does not seem to overcome our trouble. We have reported that we presume the oil failure was due to oil banking up at rear end of crankcase thus leaving the suction side of oil pump without oil. This apparently has a lot to do with it and we believe the pump is not efficient enough to build up the pressure directly afterwards. On the other hand we do not when running in the garage , obtain our maximum pressure. The cause of this is either the release valve not functioning or we have got a big leak from one of the bearings; this we shall endeavour to find out. At end of this morning's run we were fortunate enough to prevent a second collapse of the battery box. We have definitively found out the cause of this trouble is due to the bolts holding the rear bracket to frame becoming loose, thereby letting the battery fall. The new designed stay from frame to battery box appears to be radically wrong somewhere. As we cannot keep the lug on the frame where same is attached from breaking. Evidently there is an abnormal strain set up which should not be there. We shall endeavour to find the reason for this. We should be very pleased to have any remarks that Mr. ROYCE may have expressed as to the rear springing of this car. We certainly require more damping The passenger sitting besides the driver is pitched forward from the effect of the rear bounding when going over what one would call moderate bad road at medium speed. As to the running of the car generally we are very pleased with it; the engine power is remarkably good . We can obtain a speed of 70.M.P.H. fairly easily, at which speed the valves are beginning to leave their seats. We are now proceeding with our first report which will be sent to you in due course. G.W.Hancock. | ||