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).
Various mechanical faults and performance issues observed during a vehicle test run.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 11\2\  02-page044
Date  31th December 1928 guessed
  
-62-

{ EFC } points were made right, and to-day the starter motor has been working fairly well. It takes on an average 3 attempts to engage and thumps back like a 5-ton steam hammer. We are not at all pleased with the starter motor.

Rear axle: We have noticed, this last day or two, that play has developed in the pinion housing of the rear axle, this we can distinctly lift up and down by hand. Of course, we cannot say without dismantling whether it is the ball race that has worn or whether it is the ball race in its housing. It is not end play.

We have had no letter from you answering our query regarding the loss of oil from the rear of the engine. There is obviously something radically wrong, and it is not only causing very poor oil consumption, but the oil is being flung about inside the clutch case, to such an extent that it is spoiling the effect of the clutch brake and will give a false impression to the Sales Officials, as the clutch is free enough if the clutch brake was effective.

During to-day's run, by some incomprehensible reason when the top gear was taken out of mesh and the change speed lever was in the neutral position, the top gear was still engaged. This occured whilst EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} and Evans were on board. The car was stopped in the usual way, and when they tried to start the engine up, the above was found. We have not reproduced it, but we should like the Experimental Department to see how this could be possible.

Upon taking the n/s front shock-damper down, we had to uncouple the oil pipes of the one shot lubrication, and in doing so found that the pipe soldered to the nipple supplying the pivot had become loose, the soldered joint having broken away. The pipe was not broken.

{ Wired By SS{S. Smith} } We are not losing any water from the radiator after bending the overflow pipes clear of the outflow of water from the inlet pipe. We reported this, because naturally we thought that the design was wrong, but it appears to be that the workmanship was wrong in our case.

{ Wired By SS{S. Smith} } We are not satisfied with the rating of the throttle spring, the weaker one we tried only gives us 20.M.P.H. full throttle. The stronger one called for by the drawing gives us 38 to 40 M.P.H., this is too strong, therefore we want one about 5% lower rating to give 30 M.P.H. with full throttle. This is speaking of the hand control. The present spring also does not give us a nice slow running, the throttle opening per notch being too great.

We are giving you these facts as a general report is not finished, so that these obvious faults can be attended to.

{ EFC } The 20-HP car brought out by Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}, this as Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} will agree is very disappointing? The electrical equipment on this
  
  


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