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).
The S.S.I. Spectre model, detailing issues with the gearbox, clutch, engine power, and cooling system during testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 91\4\ scan0146 | |
| Date | 27th July 1935 | |
| HOTEL DE FRANCE, CHATEAUROUX, Indre. France. To. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From. G.W.H. S. S. I. SPECTRECodename for Phantom III. Your Memo of the 24.7.35 received. I) GEAR BOX. You say you are not quite clear with my reports, I am sorry this is so. In my reports of the 21st July, I was dealing entirely with oil leaks. The oil leak had been a nightmare with us, and to have got a 90% cure was sufficient to say, we were now fairly happy with the box. This did not mean the mechanism. I have said we are not in a position to dismantle the box to investigate or make alterations. The Change speed mechanism as it is now, is not fit for production. The Gears are noisy, and it is impossible without delaying the change for too lengthy a time to engage the gears without crashing. That is the position of the box at present. We are still collecting, on an average, 40 c.c. from the first motion shaft bearing, using 6 pints of oil in the box. A return cavity in the cover of the above bearing is not in operation. No hole has been drilled in the case to return the oil. ? Why. 2) CLUTCH. We have not changed the linings of the Clutch, and do not know what make they are. The Specification does not tell us. 3) We reported on the 18th July, that the Engine power was improved by taking the air from outside, also with the alignment of the Engine, it was smoother; transmission period cured reported on the 16th July, also on the 20th, we reported the Engine was smoother and definately running better. (more power) 4) We cannot give you the temperature difference with and without the stoppage of the Matrix by flies. We cleaned the Matrix when we took off the Grille. It was no use trying with the Grille off with the Matrix in the condition it was. We obtained a 5.75% gain in effeciency of the Radiator with the Grille off. We have not as yet taken a seperate test with and without the thermostats. We have been boiling so bad, that every thing we could do to get more cooling effeciency, we have done so. RE. CARBURETTERS. You can tell the Stromberg man that he will be extremely lucky,if he can get a petrol supply in the heat we are running | ||