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).
Failures and issues with the cooling, silencing, and electrical systems during an extended test run, including a Sahara crossing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 114\4\ scan0155 | |
| Date | 5th May 1937 | |
| -6- driver's seat continued to supply petrol without fail throughout the run, although the outside heat was at times nearly 50°C. and naturally considerably more along the frame side due to the blast of hot air from under the bonnet. At 10,000 miles one diaphragm shewed a slight leak, and this was changed so as to avoid any trouble during the return Sahara crossing. Considerable trouble and delay was experienced due to the fuel pipe from the main tank having been chafed through by a body bolt resulting in an air leak. This was satisfactorily repaired by connecting up with a piece of rubber tube. COOLING SYSTEM No water was added to the cooling system from the time the car left and returned to Derby after a journey of 13,000 miles in the most arduous conditions. This in itself constitutes a record for the Sahara crossing. SILENCING SYSTEM No trouble was encountered with the system until 12000 miles had been completed. On the return run across the Sahara, the pipe broke where it enters the main silencer, and had to be temporarily supported by wire until the necessary facilities for welding could be obtained. It appears that this failure was due to the lack of support in the correct place. As the design now stands too much supporting strain is thrown onto the piping itself. To avoid this trouble the silencers should be independently supported, quite apart from connecting tubes between them. On bad dips and when coping off ferries onto steep banks the tail pipe would frequently touch down, and on more than one occasion the rear bumper bar itself scraped on the ground. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. After 1500 miles running the voltage control failed, and was replaced by a new one which lasted out for the remaining mileage. The dynamo failed to charge on two occasions due to dirt on the commutator. Both head lamp bulbs failed within half an hour of each other, due to vibration and general fatigue. By the time the Sahara had been crossed, the brake light and rear lights had been put out of action. The wires had been broken away from the junction box under the tail valance by flying stones and debris. continued | ||