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).
Boat engine test run, detailing operational issues and performance figures.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\4\ img004 | |
| Date | 23th March 1931 | |
| HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Drmel/APS.5.31 contd. -2- MONDAY 23.3.31. Early morning preparations were made for the first run. All arrangements had been made for the runs to take place on the Rio Parana de Las Palmas - a distance of approximately 18 miles from Tigre - this required at least three hours for towing purposes. We were very concerned about our Scoops as the river at Tigre was one continual stream of weeds, branches and occasionally floating islands of weeds and rushes would float down stream. These things were not at all pleasant but as other motor boats with scoops behaved satisfactorily we decided to tow up to Parana for a first run. On the Parana the Argentine Navy had placed a bugnoat from which operations for clearing the river were carried out but not with any great amount of success. Arriving at the Parana we moored alongside the gunboat and from here had the first run - the boat being towed a little distance from the gunboat before starting up. The engines started immediately and were running well but in three minutes time the R.P.M. was 2850 with the result that the prop. was slipping hopelessly and no boat speed, after four minutes of this, from starting, the exhaust manifold burnt through due to insufficient water supply. Figures obtained :- K.L.G.618 plugs, No.1 prop, Jets 32, Air 22 C Mins. run 0 1 2 3 4 R.P.M. 800 1200 2200 2800 2850 Oil pressure 75/85 75/85 75/85 75/85 75/85 lbs/sq Petrol pressure - - 2.25 2.25 2.25 Water out,C 40 - 60 65 65 Scoop pressure - 0.5 1 1 1.25 Oil In, C - - - 45 - Oil out, C - - - 65 - The boat was immediately towed back to Tigre. The exhaust manifolds were removed and examined and it was discovered that only one of the twelve boxes was of any further use. | ||