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).
Test report on the performance of a Solex carburetter, detailing its shortcomings in acceleration and noise levels.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 121\2\ scan0150 | |
| Date | 14th September 1931 guessed | |
| -2- SOLEX CARBURETTER. We can get good slow running on the above carb. at 4 M.P.H. in top gear at this speed the suction noise is much greater than on the S.U. Snap acceleration is very poor. We could not obtain a snappy get away with any combination of the jets or chokes as supplied by the makers under 10 M.P.H. The engine just cut out and it is quite an easy matter to fire the carburetter. We have only three main jets to test out, the largest is too strong and builds up very badly at speeds between 10 - 20 M.P.H. A consumption test taken of this jet No.130- gave 13 M.P.H. The next in size No.140 - 41 is weak and is impossible both for snap acceleration and maximum speed. Consumption test on this weak jet gave 20 M.P.G. The suction noise on the Solex carburetter is much worse than on the S.U. especially at low speeds and very much below R.R. standard. We may do better with a larger range of jets, but in its present form this carburetter is not a success as an alternative carburetter. F.{Mr Friese} Dodd. | ||