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).
Multiple severe faults found during the testing of the 28-EX car, specifically its steering, clutch, gearbox and engine.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 11\5\ 05-page155 | |
| Date | 7th September 1934 | |
| To Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} from Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Copy to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} re 28-EX. Sg{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}14/E7.9.34 I am in receipt of Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager}3/T6.9.34 together with copy of E.1/HP.5.9.34, and I note that both E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} and Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} are keen to carry on with the test of this car. I think we must discuss this matter further when I am at Derby on Tuesday because, when I wrote to you the other day, I had only seen one of the daily reports. I have now had an opportunity of looking through them and it seems as if, judging from these reports, the car is quite impossible from the point of view of the main things which were being tested i.e. rubber engine mounting and new type gearbox with synchromesh. If you will refer to one of the first reports dated the 16th August you will see it says that the engine vibrations pulling at 8 m.p.h. in top gear are impossible. The steering joggles badly and has been made unselective due, I gather, to the rubber engine mounting. The gearbox seems to suffer from various troubles. A perusal of the reports indicates the following general position: Steering very bad and I gather worse than the present standard which we all know is none too good. Front of the car jellies badly. Clutch jaggers very badly and grabs. Gearbox very heavy to change into second and very bad from 3rd to 2nd, and change from top to 3rd not so good as standard. Engine vibrates badly under 8 m.p.h. Self-adjusting tappets not satisfactory. The first thing that I should like to know when we discuss the matter is why these faults could not have been found out before the car went to France. It rather looks as if in future 10,000 miles test cars ought to be submitted to at least 500 to 1000 miles in England before they are sent abroad. The object of course of the test is to obtain approval for modifications for production and the result of the | ||