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 The S.U. Company regarding petrol pump trouble on a Phantom III car being tested in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 149\1\ scan0188 | |
| Date | 26th October 1935 | |
| X1263 Exptl. Dept: Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}7/KW. 26th October, 1935. The S.U. Company Ltd., East Works, Adderley Park, Birmingham 8. For the attention of Mr. Skinner. Dear Sirs, Our Tester in France has been having trouble with the Petrol Pumps fitted to the Phantom III car now being tested there, and we give below a copy of his report on the subject - "We have located the Petrol Pump trouble. After standing all night the pumps were very sluggish in action, at times only one in action. They would not deliver sufficient petrol to run high speeds until approximately 25 miles had been run. Upon investigating the cause, we first checked the valves for seating, etc. The pumps were no better with valves taken out. One pump was then dismantled from the unit. With the diaphragm loose, it worked normally. After working the diaphragm by hand it was again assembled, but no better results were obtained. The Solenoid action would not pull the armature in. We then dissembled the pump again and washed the diaphragm in paraffin. Upon refitting, it operated quite normally. The other pump not touched still refused to operate. It would appear that the Esso Petrol is gumming the fabric diaphragm up and stiffening it to an extent that the magnetic force is not sufficient to distend it, apparently this is the trouble we have had from time to time when the car has been laid up for a day or so". | ||