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 discussing vehicle performance issues and further testing requirements for a car at Monthlery.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0179 | |
| Date | 8th April 1935 | |
| To G.W. Hancock Esq., Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. X200ce (3) Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}14/KW. 8.4.35. Thanks for your note. I was somewhat alarmed to see that you had taken the car on Monthlery, as of course the big end bearings have had very little running as yet, but presume you ran it in a bit before attempting high speeds. Naturally we anticipate that you can do 4,500 revs. continuously and thereby achieved a speed of about 90 m.p.h. We were glad to note that above 4,500 the engine is smooth, but suggest that if you utilise the smooth part of its range for protracted periods, complete disintegration will eventuate. I am sending off the 19" tyres to-day and should like you to fit them as soon as they arrive. Your information about the pedals hitting the floorboards is rather disconcerting and we should like to have full information about this. Please confirm that it is full torque and not high speeds which cause the pedals to come up. It is conceivable that if the pedal is touching the boards it will make the period more noticeable in the car. We must say that we are very disappointed with the results of the rubber engine mounting, as really 5- B.IV seems very little better than Lp{Mr Lappin}'s car, whereas Lp{Mr Lappin}'s car should actually be worse because it has a lighter flywheel. It is for this reason that we are wondering whether anything is happening which is allowing the vibration to get through from the engine to the frame and so short-circuiting the insulation. Besides the tests with the standard front axle and steering, will you please remove the propellor shaft flywheel damper and let us know whether the overrun period is still absent. This test is to check the efficiency of the clutch centre which we have fitted, and which appeared to us to dispense with the necessity for a propellor shaft damper. Incidentally we have never checked the propellor shaft for balance or running in truth, so will you have a look at this when you are investigating high speed roughness. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} | ||