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).
Letter to Mr. G.W. Hancock regarding issues with a petrol pump and exhaust system.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\1\ scan0149 | |
| Date | 27th July 1933 | |
| X4802 Mr. G.{Mr Griffiths - Chief Accountant / Mr Gnapp} W. Hancock, Hotel de France, Chateauroux, Indre. FRANCE. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}6/KT.27.7.33. We hope you had a satisfactory run back to Chateauroux. With regard to the parts we have sent over to you. (1) Petrol Pump. We are seriously concerned about the mysterious failure of this pump. We have proved to our satisfaction here that the trouble is not simply vapour lock. We ran a car until we got the water and oil temp. to 100°C. and the temp. under the bonnet to 73°C. We could not produce vapour lock with either petrol system. We have sent you a new petrol pump but what we are anxious to know is what caused the original trouble. (2) Exhaust System. The front expansion box we have sent you we think is a definite improvement over the original one, and we shall be glad if you will run with it fitted. With regard to the suspension, we send you herewith curves shewing the stiffness of the original rubber mounting, and also the stiffness of the system when we put the softer rubbers in which Roberts has brought out to you. These rubbers increase the flexibility of the system 5 times. We should like you to measure how much movement you can get on your exhaust system due to the rocking of the engine because this rubber mounting will only allow about .8" sideways movement. Our engines here are held by the pedal shaft, we think on your car you have a spherical bearing on the pedal shaft which allows the engine to rock more, and in consequence may have caused the failure. We are sending you another front exhaust box, downtake and intermediate pipe in heavier material, though we hope we shall not have to use them because they are very heavy, but it will ensure that you are not held up continuously by exhaust system failure. One feature of the thicker material is that it prevents tinniness without lagging. | ||