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).
Engine detonation, noise, vibration issues, and valve spring failures.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\L\Jan1924-March1924\ Scan34 | |
| Date | 12th July 1923 | |
| R.R. 493A (40 H) (SL 42 12-7-23). J.H., D.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} -2- EXPERIMENTAL REPORT Expl. No. 9770 REF: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/1.G11.1.24. which we have been running about, detonations have now become more pronounced especially with the magneto. Until we have a governed magneto ignition it may be necessary to run with lower compression. When the car is thoroughly hot the vibrations on retard at about 40 m.p.h. are very manifest. Comparative tests show that the engine is quieter than the std. 40/50 HP. on the road. The valve operation is less noisy. The carburetter suction is the outstanding noise from the engine when inside the car, but with the engine running light, the drive to the magneto is noisy. We are, on a second engine, using fabric joints for this drive. On the test bench we have had three valve springs break. At present, when a valve spring breaks, it is necessary to remove the head in order to replace it. We are making a tool which can be inserted in the sparking plug hole which will hold up the valve so that the spring can be changed without removing the head. At the same time we think we should try and improve the springs or we suggest we should try less lift on the valves. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||