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).
Various faults found during a road test of car 11-EX, including issues with heating, ignition, brakes, clutch, steering and the fuel system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 71\3\ scan0177 | |
| Date | 12th August 1926 | |
| To: BJ. Copies to CWB., Bk.{A. Birkett - Commercial Manager} PN{Mr Northey}1/HW/12.8.26. re 11-EX. I have run this Car a few hundred miles during the last week. I find that the heating trouble, which used to be very excessive in the back of the Car, can now be described as non-existent. The floor-boards kept remarkably cool. The heat of the front boards was much better, but the rise of temperature still wants improving, and I understand that there is still a point where the hot air can get in behind the heel-board. The magneto ignition on this Car became very inconsistent. The foot-brake will snatch every time it is used at all suddenly, and on one occasion a very bad front wheel jagger started from the quick application of the brakes,- a jagger which was so severe as to be almost as embarrassing as the bad steering wobble. The clutch on this Car when hot has practically no clutch-brake, and consequently gear-changing becomes very difficult. I fear this is a standard condition. The steering pillar controls rattle extremely badly. I found that the majority of people who might have to sit at the back of this Car for an hour complained of a feeling of sickness. This Car, you may remember, has already had this complaint, but since this feature was criticised, the various leakages which might have enabled the exhaust to creep in have been removed. This Car has a tank in which is included the reserve two-gallon fitting. Recently I ran out of petrol when the tap was turned to the "Main" position. I got down and turned the tap to the "Reserve" position, after which it was quite impossible to start the engine as petrol would not find its way into the carburettor. By a long process of isolation, the trouble was traced to an air lock in the pipe leading from the petrol tank to the Auto-vac. Boot was able to suck the air lock and some petrol out and thus all became well again. This is, however, the only car which I have been able to test having this tank modification. We will again reproduce this experiment. PN.{Mr Northey} | ||