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).
Wraith engine testing, failure investigation, and modifications including a new cylinder head and push rod examination.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\1\ scan0212 | |
| Date | 17th September 1937 | |
| - 2 - BY.6/G.17.9.37. Incidentally, a new head with increased water spaces has already been made in the Experimental Department, and will be fitted to an engine during next week. At present we have only one Wraith engine available and until a further engine is provided (which will be ready in a week's time) it is not desirable to risk wrecking this engine to check up on the conclusions arrived at, but immediately another engine is available the Experimental Department will try and reproduce the failure under the old conditions of camshaft, valve lift, spring pressure etc., and then by the modified engine under the same conditions demonstrate that the trouble has been overcome. Arising from the discussion around the failure, it was decided that the stiffness of the mechanism required investigation, as apparently elastic compression was taking place, which reduced the lift and increased the wear and tear. Mr. Swdl.{Len H. Swindell} was to examine the push rod with a stroboscope, and also by means of ascertaining whether 'buckling' of the push rod was taking place under load. BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} | ||