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).
The experiences and issues with a 20-HP car during testing in the U.S.A.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 53\4\ Scan010 | |
| Date | 20th April 1923 | |
| X4584 [Illegible text, struck through] c. to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to HJ. c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to C. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}6/H20.4.23. re Running of 20-HP. Car in U.S.A. The following are a few experiences and points of view which have been raised in connection with the above, as the result of information obtained from our tester Wright, who has now returned from America, the car being left in their hands. 1. LEAKY RADIATOR. This has been a continual source of trouble while the car has been in service. The leaks occur at several points along the joint made between the matrix and the top tank. In running this car there was a considerable amount of bumping of the chassis on to the front buffers, the springing being considered much too weak, as already reported. Wright also points out that in examining the fixing of this radiator, and found the springs used on the supporting bolts did not appear to be working properly, and were very badly rusted up, and were too tight a fit on the guide spigot. 2. UNSATISFACTORY SELF STARTER. On one occasion the car was left in the open all night for the purpose of testing the self-starter. The minimum temperature during the night was recorded as 10° below zero,(degrees Fahrenheit) which is reported as the normal condition at this time of the year. It was found when starting up that the motor would barely turn the engine and hot water and paraffin had to be used to free the engine sufficiently to start up satisfactorily under which conditions we understand the starter of the 40/50 Springfield engines does work quite satisfactorily. This point I am asking them to confirm. Wright reports that the battery was fully charged and the oil in the engine was 'Mobiloil' A, the standard oil used in the winter for the 40/50 engines. 3. SPRINGING. Springing was considered generally to be on the weak side, especially the front springs. We have on later chassis fixed higher rated springs, and also arranged for any future chassis for abroad to have stronger springs fitted. It is considered that | ||