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).
From Chateauroux, France, detailing findings on a vehicle's clutch, cylinders, petrol gauge, and brake drums.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page125 | |
| Date | 24th November 1931 | |
| X5840 To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Em. From G.W.H. Hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. 24/11/31. 18.G.IV. RE. CLUTCH. We have made our pogo stick, for measuring the load of the clutch, free from any binding, and have made sure that there was no binding in the clutch mechanism. The loads we now obtain are - First movement 32.1/2 lbs. Full movement 63.1/2 lbs. These loads are taken as near to your sketch as possible. RE. CYLINDERS. We have taken off one inspection cover from the cylinder blocks but we cannot see very much as the tubes for the cylinder head bolts obstruct the view. We have poked about inside the cylinder casting and flushed it out with water. There seems to be a free enough passage as the water flowed freely all round the cylinder walls. We shall probably be taking the cylinder head off to examine the valves as we have started to lose the tappet clearance on the exhaust valves, also inlet valve on No.3 cylinder. We shall, upon dismantling, take the end covers off the cylinder head to observe whether there is any obstruction inside which is causing the overheating at low speeds. RE. SMITH ELECTRIC PETROL GAUGE. It was a pity that the instrument was not fitted at Derby. When we came to fit the unit in the tank it would not operate owing to the tube stay running lengthways in the tank. We have managed it by bending the wire into a kind of a loop. We find that the float requires approx. 1 gallon of petrol in the tank before it starts to rise, the float being half submerged. The total range not being quite correct, we are able to further add another gallon of petrol after it has reached its maximum reading. RE. BRAKE DRUMS. We have had all the brake drums off. The two rear drums are scored slightly. The nearside front is scored badly. The O.S. front was found smothered in oil, the bijur pipe feeding the toggle shaft was found cracked and one of the connections leaking. Do you think it will ever be possible to do away with the soldered joints and the banjos, and really get something good? G.W.H. J.H.Hancock | ||