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).
The condition of chassis 9 G.III after 2,764 miles of testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 4\9\ 09-page009 | |
| Date | 10th June 1925 | |
| V8840 Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre, France. GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}E/Crn. 10.6.25. To: "Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}" From: G.W.Hancock. Report on chassis 9 G.III after 2,764 miles. Engine. Engine power good. Compressions even. Lubrication of cylinders good and even. (i.e. a light oil stream down cylinder walls after the run). Valves and fittings to L.O.P. E.51951 - these appear O.K. Pistons E.53563 with shrunk gudgeon pins and end piece to m.53561/2 and to M.E.C. 2009 - bottom bevel scraper ring made L shape. These appear to be quite O.K. We have not noticed any gudgeon pin knocks. There is a slight carbon deposit on top of pistons. Periods 12 to 28 m.p.h. and 30 to 42 m.p.h. engine runs very smooth. 60 to 64 m.p.h. - very bad. On retard there is a very bad period from 42 to 38 m.p.h. Max. 40 m.p.h. Engine gears are poor when dynamo is charging. Water pump and drive to L.O.P. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 50308 & 52010 - these are O.K. Controls. Turn buckle on starter carburetter - one end was loose and could not be tightened up with reasonable pressure on screw. We would suggest saw cut carried right through on these turn buckles; they are robust enough. All other controls are O.K. Slight leak of oil between cylinder block and crankcase. Front end. Slight leak of oil round rocker shaft cover, also oil leak from tappet covers. Inlet pipe to L.O.P. E.51767 - O.K. Exhaust pipe and fittings to L.O.P. E.51605 - O.K. Front & rear engine suspensions O.K. Carburetter and fittings to L.O.P. E.53300 - these are O.K. We have a throttle whistle at 18 to 20 m.p.h. and 38 to 40 m.p.h. Fan to L.O.P. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} 53250 - no spring fitted - O.K. Fan belt tightened up three turns of adjusting nut. Slipper drive O.K. Magneto and dynamo drive to L.O.P. E.52890 - this is O.K. Oil pump to L.O.P. E.50303 - this is quite O.K. We have had trouble with main oil relief valve sticking, but this is now quite O.K. Battery ignition - new distributor contact screw held treated to prevent oxydisation - there is no oxydisation, but on the contact of finger a large pit has formed and a corresponding hole in contact screw. We have filed these up and cleaned condensor connections. In checking up timing before doing this, we found it 6° early. This has been made O.K. Bonnet and fittings to L.O.P. E.53438 - bonnet is O.K. There are deep depressions on dash board where bonnet hinge is located at either side, due to chattering of same. The bonnet is a good fit when the car is stationary. All bolts fastening bonnet strips worked loose - one missing. These have all been tightened up. Engine guards - as reported, these do not keep the engine clean on either side. On the exhaust side most of the dirt appears to come through the hole allowed for exhaust pipe. We believe that if the flange at this point was made deeper at the front it would tend to throw the dirt clear of the hole. On the O.S. we found that the engine guard did not come within 1/2" of engine case. This allowed a lot of dirt to come through. Also the end louvre should be carried close up to undershield of gearbox. | ||