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).
Secret memorandum discussing engine detonations, magneto ignition, and valve spring issues on a car.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 42\2\ Scan136 | |
| Date | 18th January 1924 | |
| 74219 X3840 37 To HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. BJ. WOR.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} RG.{Mr Rowledge} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} E DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} SECRET. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} A.{Mr Adams} C. ENGINE. X.9770 X.4219 R1/M18.1.24. I was very pleased to receive your report of the progress made. As regards the car for here driver Dodd has very little to do and you could make any use of him that you find possible, leaving you the 20 HP. here for my personal driving. The coast roads are only suitable for slow driving, being dangerous from many causes. One always must be prepared to stop any 50 yards. Regarding the detonations you will find they are worse out here owing to the different petrol. It is difficult to keep the Goshawk quiet and powerful. We have not removed the head and presume it would be unreasonably soon. Certainly test and find how much we lose by reducing the compression. Regarding the governed magneto I do not think this can be done until we fit the RR. with relay control which will have attention as soon as draughtsmen are available. They are at present full up with more urgent work. I will send to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} some sketches to start work on as soon as he can spare the time. In the meantime we are as far advanced as anyone. It has occurred to me that probably there is no advantage in always running both ignitions. This should be tested. One would expect however that some wrong conclusion might be arrived at as regards consumption, as the incorrect (extra early) advance of the magneto might tend to better consumption, but with less sweet running, but I really cannot see why the magneto should be used except as a standby, and if this is so there is no need to bother with automatic advance for it. As regards broken valve springs I was a little surprised we had so much lift on the valves, and I believe Mr. Elliott and I spoke of keeping the point and rate of opening the same but making the diagram lower and flatter which should help the valve springs materially; also might be helpful to aero engine valve springs. R.{Sir Henry Royce} I will write about the brakes by the next post. I was looking out for a report. | ||