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).
Faults found with a car, including governor, springing, and gearbox issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\2\ scan0186 | |
| Date | 13th December 1938 | |
| - 2 - Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}14/KW13.12.38. it was found that due to the presence of a piece of aluminium under the valve in the governor case the hand control was not functioning at all, but with this restored to its normal efficiency the springing was then considered to be sufficiently well damped. In respect of 26-G-VI (later renumbered WXA-5) which was handed over to S. by Experimental Dept. for permanent ownership and demonstration work, the springing was criticised, and here it was found on test that the soft setting gave a reading of 20 lbs to the square inch instead of 1½, and when set to the proper figures the riding was good. Thus, it does seem that whereas the springing comes in for criticism, it is not directly due to the springing at all, but the hydraulic shock absorber system which seems to be rather too frequently not functioning as it should. There appears to be a rather excessive amount of slack on the gears, other than the direct drive, when accelerating and decelerating, which makes itself known as a 'clonk' in the transmission. This is not a point I have seen criticised by customers yet, but it has been criticised by Vl.{V. Lewis / Mr Valentine} in respect of WXA-37 and myself in respect of WXA-5. I got the Works to see this latter car when It was at Derby the other day, and they report that whilst the slack was there it was unfortunately not curable, and appears to exist with the present design of gearbox. Finally, when we had to borrow a car from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} for some demonstration work in the North, the front silencer cracked, and we had to send it back to the Works to have it changed. I thought you would like to have to date any such points as the foregoing in connection with this car. I have several copies of this memo, so if you would like me to send it to others I can do so, but probably you may care to make some comments to the Works on it yourself. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} --- Att: Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/Wym.{G. Harold Whyman - Experimental Manager}3/JHE.2.12.38. | ||