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).
Road test report from France detailing vehicle performance issues, including carburettor, clutch, and fuel consumption.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan068 | |
| Date | 27th March 1922 | |
| Hotel De L'ouest, Rue De La{L. A. Archer} Paix, Laval, Mayenne. March 27th. 1922. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} from HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} We started off from Boulogne at 8-0 A.M. on the 24th. and ran down to Laval covering 253 miles which was all we could do that day. On Mar. 25th. we ran about from Laval to Le Mans and La{L. A. Archer} Fleche on fast roads with indifferent surface and covered 261 miles which was as much as we could do before dark. On Mar. 26th. we started off soon after daybreak and finished at dusk, covering 332 miles between Le Mans and La{L. A. Archer} Fleche, Laval and Rennes. It is going to be very difficult to do 350 miles per day, but we hope to accomplish it within the next day or so. The car is not really fast enough and (to do it easily) it is too slow up hills and against a head wind to put up a high average speed. Also a lot of time is lost due to the poor torque at low speeds. We have also had one or two troubles which have taken time off - On the second day we found that the vertical rod on the high speed jet control on the carburetter had screwed itself out of the jaw at the lower end causing the high speed jet to enrich itself. This rod should be positively fixed in the jaw in future as there is always a possibility of it becoming unscrewed if the quick threaded nut at the top is tight on its thread. On the day that this happened the consumption was very bad being only about 14 M.P.G. I also suspect that the starting carburetter was leaking and suggest that the small throttle for this should be made a better fit. Also the starting carburetter jet had opened itself up by a whole turn due apparently to the vibration of the engine. I think a locking device might be fitted to this with advantage. The squeak of the clutch has got worse and cannot be regarded as satisfactory, otherwise it works nicely. The off-side rear Dunlop wheel worked contd:- OUR COMMENTS. Point for D.O.attention We will go into this matter on next 10,000 miles car on test. We have been instructed that this should be made an easy fit - it would appear necessary for this job to be instructed to be finished off by lapping. Point for D.O. attention We are now working very seriously on the carb. and hope to report further re. alterations required. Rather disappointing as this clutch is the same in construction and material as 4-Goshawk-11 H.P.car at Le Cannadel, which he reports is perfect. We hope to to fix a set | ||