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 noted after a 4,690-mile road test of a 25/30 HP model in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\1\ scan0081 | |
| Date | 18th August 1937 | |
| 600A CHATEAUROUX. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}/G/JAB.18.8.37. To. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} All testers please note 26.G.VI.- 25/30 HP. Report after 4,690 Miles in France. The following points have been noted since the Summary of Faults Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux}/G/JAB.28.7.37. 1) The bottom tappets have been removed and examined and are in an excellent condition. The bedding of the rocker and push-rod ball ends is good and there is no noticeable wear of the pads at the valve ends of the rockers. 2) The exhaust manifold has distorted so that the centre flange has drawn away leaving a clearance of .040" between it and the face on the cylinder head, and the exhaust was blowing badly past the joint. An additional .040 joint washer has been fitted on the centre flange to overcome the trouble. The centres of the brass nuts had drawn out about 1/16". Steel nuts have been fitted instead. 3) Both the arms for the rear damper connecting links have come adrift from the spring plates. We have verified that the dampers do not come to the end of their travel on bump, but they are very nearly at the limit on full rebound. 4) The raised cross member and raised front mounting broke up and were replaced by new parts sent from Works. The torque reaction member was as ineffective on the new mounting as on the previous, due to the centre aluminium casting twisting inside the rubbers. This led to the fracture of the previous mounting, so other means of dealing with the torque reaction have been improvised. 5) The experiment of arranging an extension of the radiator overflow pipe facing forward into the air stream has made no difference. On the last run, the car boiled due to shortage of water 600 miles after fitting the radiator, and two gallons had to be added. It has already been proved that the loss is down the overflow pipe and not elsewhere, and it has been checked that no leaks have subsequently developed. 6) Trouble with the brakes binding owing to the servo sticking was experienced. This was due to partial seizure of the centre spindle in the tube which was dry and had picked up. It was also found that the bosses for the screws fixing the flexible plate drive were fouling the inside edge of the serrated portion of one friction disc. The curved arm against which the driving peg works was tight on its bush JAB | ||