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).
Starter motor engagement issues with the Phantom II during frosty weather.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\3\ scan0224 | |
| Date | 5th March 1931 | |
| X6079 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}3/KT.5.3.31. X6079 X6080 To R.{Sir Henry Royce} From Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} c. to Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} c. to Ey. EFC. RE PHANTOM II. STARTER MOTOR. We have during the last two weeks been leaving a L.H. Phantom out all night, unprotected, for investigation purposes and we have had considerable trouble with the starter motor not engaging for some considerable time. The systems are - the pressing of the push button results in a feeble attempt of the pinion to engage. It has to be repeated 10 - 20 times before this can be accomplished. This is due to the oil becoming very gummy with the frosty weather now prevailing. The moving parts of the motor are of a fairly large area which with the above conditions require considerable more effort to move. We have had on two occasions, when the battery was not fully charged, had to resort to the starting handle to help the motor, as it is not possible to swing the engine under these conditions. This is not an isolated case but has occurred on several R.H. P.II. The impression an owner would have would be that the starter had failed completely. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux} | ||