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).
Typed report on a vehicle road test, evaluating the performance of the engine, gearbox, clutch, and other components.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 46\2\ Scan050 | |
| Date | 15th August 1917 | |
| contd:- -2- there are a number of other points. It would be worth while having someone considering a design. I have not had a chance to run with the S.U. since I have been away yet. I tried on the way down to fix it up but had difficulty with the controls and had to give it up. The R-R Carburetter on 4-Goshawk-11 has worked very well and the car is pulling well. I came down over the mountains and I was very pleased the way the car got away round hair-pin bends. I shall be surprised if the S.U. will give much better results. 4-Goshawk-11 has run very well indeed - after leaving Paris I did not open the bonnet until I arrived here. The behaviour of the units so far is as follows:- Engine power. Very good - corrected/speedometer - max. speed - 61 M.P.H. only had to use 2nd. speed on hills 5 or 6 times all the way. Engine silence. Good - engine gears sing. Engine vibration. The engine is very free at low speeds - shook the whole car. I have proved that this is due to a period on the exhaust pipe and silencer. The silencer has only one bracket and the front hangs on the pipe - at low speeds the exhaust impulses set this vibrating. To me it was peculiar to this car - but you might look out for it. Gear Box. 2nd. speed, 1st. speed and reverse - very good for silence - S.S. noisy - dry. Clutch. Perfect. If I was asked I should say the clutch is the most perfect unit on the car. It engages forward and backwards without a jagger; does not squeak. Brakes. Excellent. I have not touched them since I left Derby. No noise - smooth - when ploughing through mud it sometimes got between the cover and the drum. There is no appreciable wear on the brakes. Axle. Very good for silence and absence of oil leaks. Oil leaks. Slight - oil consumption is very good. It was filled up at Paris and it has hardly shown any used. contd:- R.R. 189 (600) (H) 296. 15.8.17) M.P. 176549. | ||