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).
Technical memo discussing seized pistons in New Phantom engines and proposing a modification to the starter carburetter.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 66\1\ scan0187 | |
| Date | 6th February 1929 | |
| C O P Y N-W. Technical - re New PhantomCodename for PHANTOM I Pistons. With reference to the above, we have received two cars this week, viz. 91-CL (Lord Ebury) and 7-WR (Withers) which have only run a very short mileage and which have been suffering from seized pistons. In each case the customers state that they were driving along quite ordinarily and suddenly a foreign noise set up in the engine. They stopped and investigated and could find nothing wrong and then upon re-starting the engine the bad noise had ceased and then there was a knock in the cylinders. Both customers strongly deny any excessive use of the starter carburetter. In the case of 7-WR (Withers) we rather stressed the point, as the piston involved was No.3. but the owner would not have it at any price. We forwarded the 2 pistons in question to "W" for inspection, but, in the meantime, we are wondering if the piston clearances have recently been taken to finer limits with a view to eliminating knocks. If this is the case, we would suggest that the matter will require investigation. It will be appreciated that it is very difficult to try and advise an owner as regards the care which should be exercised when starting an engine from cold. The obvious answer is that they have owned Rolls-Royce cars for many years and have never had a thing like this happen before. In view of the possibility of the excessive use of the starter carburetter, the writer would like to make a suggestion for the consideration of the D.O. Would it be possible to have a spring fitted to the starter carburetter control, so that same must be held in the starting position by the driver when starting from cold, and when released same would close itself. This would make this part practically fool-proof. We certainly have had frequent cases of trouble where ignorant people have left the starter carburetter on too long. With reference to the first part of this memo, we believe we are right in saying that Sales Department testers of new cars have, for some time time now, suspected tight pistons in phantom engines which are at present coming through. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} | ||