Rolls-Royce Archives
         « Prev  Box Series  Next »        

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).
Vehicle electrical and mechanical issues following a road test, including telegram correspondence.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 11\2\  02-page039
Date  27th December 1928 guessed
  
35

Hôtel de France,
Châteauroux,
Indre?

To: Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Derby

We have received your telegram reading:-

SENDING ALLEN LYTTON WITH STARTERMOTOR DYNAMO SILENCER PARTS WILL ARRIVE SUNDAY OBVIOUS FAULTS SHOULD BE CORRECTED WITH MINIMUM DELAY OF TEST WIRE IF ANY OTHER PARTS REQUIRED.

and have replied:-

WE DO NOT REQUIRE ALLEN DYNAMO OUTPUT NOW 11 AMPS 16 AMPS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ALL NIGHT DRIVING. STARTER MOTOR NOT REQUIRED SEND SPRINGS ZENITH METAL COVER PETROL TANK CAP SILENCER PIPE DAYS MILES 605 TOTAL 2873.

We do not think the job justified bringing Allen out here. We have regulated the dynamo and have now obtained a maximum output of 11 amps. As stated in our telegram, to maintain a full charge it would require the dynamo giving an output of 16 amps, for a matter of 12 hours driving in the dark. As we do not think this is possible, we do not see the necessity of changing the dynamo. We presume this was the reason of sending out a new dynamo, and not the brush noise that has been reported. With regard to the brush noise, it is not regular, and we have had a full day without any sign of it. Therefore in our opinion, a new dynamo is not necessary.

As regards the starter motor, we can manage all that is required, and believe we could get it to function perfectly after fitting the springs that were asked for in our previous report. I had a conversation with Mr. Royce about the starter motor, the result being what I sent in my report. We shall experience the same fabling with the 20-HP.

As regard to the lights, it is a known fact that our dynamos do not give a sufficient charge to maintain the full output taken by all the lamps for all night driving. It is an exceptional condition and should not be regarded as a fault. The trouble in our case is that the dynamo output on our runs only averages 6 amps. and gets very little of the slow speed when the maximum output from the dynamo is obtained. What we really require for these tests is a spare accumulator which could be charged up during the day.

We have not up to the present had any other serious failures other than the silencer pipe, filter becoming choked, clutch not stopping, and of course the front jellying. The most serious we consider to be
  
  


Copyright Sustain 2025, All Rights Reserved.    whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble
An unhandled error has occurred. Reload 🗙