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).
Summary of minor troubles identified during a 10,000-mile test in France, focusing on exhaust valves and shock absorbers.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\W\May1931-August1931\ Scan082 | |
| Date | 1st August 1931 | |
| To R.{Sir Henry Royce} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Tm. C. Eg. Nor. c. Tm. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. DV. ORIGINAL Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/FMS/ATS.8.31. X7941 X7779 10,000 MILE TEST IN FRANCE. You will have noted a number of minor troubles that have arisen on the present 10,000 mile test and the following is a summary of what is being done to investigate or cure them :- (1) Exhaust valves losing clearance. Tests so far carried out indicate that with certain fuels they are using in this high compression engine, the exhaust valves give trouble, whereas with others the trouble does not occur. They are verifying this point which naturally takes some little time to confirm. This result is hardly what we expect as they are getting no preignition. (2) Shock Absorbers. The replenishing valves which have aluminium seats are hammering into the case. Experimentally, we are fitting some steel inserts to carry the seat which will be run on the bump test. Hancock has reported that the levers on the front shock absorbers come loose on the serrations. He has tightened these up several times but the trouble recurrs. We have noticed it occasionally on customers cars but think we may have accentuated it on 25-EX by the high shock absorber loads. We are proposing to run some shock absorbers on the bump test having a slower taper on the arm. Hancock also writes :- "We have had trouble with the failure of the lubrication of the rear shock absorber connecting links. This has been caused by stones hitting the bijur supply pipe attached to the bracket of the brake operating shafts. This is bound to give trouble as there is no protection whatever. The scheme is alright providing the car always runs upon a smooth tarmac road, but even in England there are roads which are liable to throw up stones. The effect was to loosen the joint, and this, being under the full bijur pressure, oil escaped at this joint instead of going up the connecting lever. Consequently the top ball end was perfectly dry." | ||