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 performance of a vehicle's propeller shaft, chassis lubrication, electrical system, starter motor, and ignition.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 125\1\ scan0208 | |
| Date | 5th March 1935 | |
| -7- Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}19/KW.5.3.35. PROPELLOR SHAFT. No further trouble was experienced with the couplings of the propellor shaft after making the locking taps secure. Very little wear could be detected in the bearings and no leaks developed. The joints are light in construction. CHASSIS LUBRICATION. It is surprising that this class of car retains hand lubrication of the chassis units. To lubricate thoroughly all the necessary parts takes approximately one and a half hours. The lubrication to the front pivots had a bastard lubricator fitted which the gun supplied would not fit. We had to obtain lubricators and fit them. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. The wiring of the car is very poor. No protection is given to the cotton insulated wires where they thread through the various points on the chassis. This caused us trouble with the head lamps failing due to shorting occurring by the insulation having rubbed through. Also the main cable fouled the clutch operating levers and shorted. The system of bi-metal thermostats is used in place of the fuse system. It has the advantage from the Makers point of view that no one circuit can be overloaded by accessories, as the thermostat cuts off the current in a few moments, which safeguards the wire from overheating. The instrument lighting was good and clearly visible at night. STARTER MOTOR. The motor gave no trouble, and must be very efficient. We were surprised at the length of time and number of times it could be used without showing any signs of the battery failing. It is superior to our own starter in this respect. IGNITION. The ignition system gave no trouble, and no adjustments were necessary. | ||