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).
Report addressing a complaint of insufficient speed, detailing the investigation and discussing potential piston and axle modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\1\ Scan011 | |
| Date | 1st September 1927 | |
| -3- fastened together and attached to the back of the car. 7. Insufficient speed. This we understand is the most important complaint, and the driver is very emphatic on this point, stating that he is very disappointed with the speed, and that a definite promise that he would obtain 75 miles per hour was given by Sales Dept. We do not think that any guaranteed speed should be given, as it is a very dangerous practice, and an undertaking which depends so much upon the condition of the finished car. The only actual concrete statements we are able to make are the actual HP's which can be obtained at the road wheels, and we maintain that this car is quite satisfactory in this respect. However, on examining the car, we saw no reason why it should not show a good turn of speed, and although the speedometer showed a maximum of about 62 m.p.h., the performance of the car certainly did not confirm this, and an examination revealed the fact that the speedometer belt required tightening up. After this was done, the driver was quite satisfied with the speed, over 75 m.p.h. as shown by the speedometer being obtained. It seems a pity that this job could not have been tackled earlier so as to avoid the false impressions which seem to have been caused regarding the performance of the car. 8. The car is now fitted with plain [word crossed out] pistons, and the present instructions are that it should be fitted with latest type split pistons. This we are proceeding with, but we are rather loath to do it as we do not feel that these pistons, especially when they are new, will give the same results as regards HP as at present. We would prefer from our point of view to fix the very latest type pistons which have piston rings added to the top of the piston. These are not yet definitely standardised, a point which could be brought up to advantage at the next conference as above referred to, on 20th. inst. 9. Whilst on the question of speed, we think the above car is one which could be improved to advantage by the fixing of a lower-geared axle. This also is a point which is not yet standardised nor in a productable stage, but could be brought up to advantage at the next meeting. | ||