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).
Letter responding to remarks, detailing issues with a non-standard lubricator, valve failure, and a sliding exhaust pipe joint.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\2\ 02-page258 | |
| Date | 28th March 1930 | |
| [Handwritten Notes] By noted By E E noted Do noted DX Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} [Typed Content] To: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/MM From G.W.H RTC/LP{Mr Lappin} Return HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} Hôtel de France Châteauroux Indre We have received your letter Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/MM/EJ 26-3-30. We are not by our remarks intending to suggest that you are not interested in our troubles. We are all working with one end in view, the betterment of the car. Oversights can be made on both sides. The Knots lubricator fitted to this car is evidently by the Drawing you have sent not standard. The perforated plate is too large in dia, to fit at the bottom of the lubricator and is made to fit on the upper portion with the gauze underneath. It must be an old type or wrongly made. It is identical to the drawings sent to you. Re the failure of the Valves. We found as previously stated just before the failure of the valves one or two tappets had taken up all the clearance. Why, we are at a loss to know without the drivers had been careless in the setting of the clearance when cold. We have run 3,000 miles with no difference measurable in the tappet clearance and as stated we have not been able to detect any pre-ignition taking place at high speed. We have discarded the first set of plugs because of there failure to fire at slow speed the centre electrode having become burnt considerably. Re sliding joint. The exhaust pipe bends into such queer shapes it is almost impossible to hold it by a stay as you suggest It was so hopeless a job that I set to work to make a joint that would work. In this we have been success full. It is working fine and the pipe is keeping its shape. We do not altogether agree with you that the silencer comes forward or that the pipe is pushed in the joint, by holding the front of the pipe by the stay. We find that it still expands and comes out of the joint at the rear end, not at the front. We quite agree that the sliding joint should be made in bronze the expansion would then be more even. Re your visit. We shall require 24 hours notice or else we cannot arrive at Le Bourget in time. It is at the far side of Paris from here [Signature] G.W.H. [Stamp] RECEIVED 31 MAR 1930 P & A DEPT | ||