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).
Testing the 'R' engine installation in Sir Malcolm Campbell's 'Bluebird' car, detailing starter and magneto issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 179b\2\ img189 | |
| Date | 30th November 1932 | |
| ORIGINAL To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Ha/Lov.{Mr Lovesey} c. to Eg. c. to Sor. c. to Rg.{Mr Rowledge} c. to S. c. to By.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to Lr.{Mr Ellor} Re/Lov.{Mr Lovesey}1/WJ.30.11.32. X4507. "R" ENGINE IN "BLUEBIRD" I visited Messrs. Thomson & Taylors on Friday to get an engine run to test the installation of the 'Bluebird'. The run was quite satisfactory and the petrol, oil, and water systems functioned correctly - at least under the light running conditions which were all we could give it. The transmission, gears, and clutch were tried with the wheels jacked up and were satisfactory under these conditions. The temperature distributor in the radiator was quite good and no cold spots were discovered. The engine was run at speeds between 750 and 1000 R.P.M. until boiling occurred when a small quantity of water was lost from the header tank but we do not think this would have occurred if the engine had been running at higher speed. A second run was carried out on Saturday to demonstrate to Sir Malcolm Campbell, but on both occasions starting was very difficult and wasted considerable time. We are firmly convinced that the trouble was due to the two stroke starters as exactly the same trouble was experienced at Calshot in 1929 when using this type of starter. We always obtained easy starting when we adopted the Mark ll type of gas starter. We definitely cannot rely upon the two stroke starters for this engine and it is our experience that the Mark ll type gas starter is the only dependable type. We must definitely have two of these to take to Daytona and are trying to obtain the loan of two from the Air Ministry similar to the set supplied for Miss England. Full size air bottles should be used as the plant in this case is not intended to be portable. The two stroke starters which Campbell used on the Napier are being sent to us to put in working order and try out for starting the spare engine but we shall only regard these as a 'stand by'. We have brought back to the Works two sets of B.T.H. magnetos which have been supplied to replace the Watfords at present on the engine. The serrated drive couplings are being fitted to these magnetos and we shall then fit them to the engine. This job will be done while the car is at the body builders. | ||