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).
Improving slow running on 40-50 HP engines by fitting air-tight washers to the valves.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 35\3\ scan 060 | |
| Date | 17th September 1924 | |
| N-W EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} Br1/H.17.9.24. re Slow Running on 40-50 H.P. Engines. A case has just gone through our hands which I think may be of interest to you. We decarbonized an engine upon which the valve clearances were certainly on the large side, .015" and .018" clearances being shown. When the enginewas erected the slow running was decidedly poor, and the valve mechanism generaly noisy, also, of course, exhaust blows were very audible down the valve stems. The customer had brought us a new set of air tight washers to be fitted to the valves. Although this is not standard we added them at his request, and immediately the slow running was abnormally good and the valve mechanism quite quiet. This customer has used air tight washers on his valves ever since the car was new, and thinks very highly of them. They are manufactured by the Streatham Engineering Co. I understand that these washers are fitted as standard on several makes of cars. Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} | ||