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).
Investigation into a pump failure on Chassis 3.CM.107, identifying paraffin and rubber components as the cause.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 96\1\ scan0328 | |
| Date | 2nd July 1938 | |
| 361 W/N. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}10/JH.2.7.38. Chassis 3.CM.107. The failure of this pump was definitely due to gummed down valves as stated in my report Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems}7/JH.14.6.38. We have since found that the residual fliud in the pump is paraffin and a test is to be made to check for sulphur. This being the case the pump can never have been run since it was fitted on the car and as it was a replacement pump it was in all probability fitted with rubber dust covers whilst in stock. These we know caused the same trouble which has now disappeared with the use of brass nuts. We have found that it is only possible to stick the valve if the paraffin in testing the pump is left in contact with rubber. It is for this reason that the paraffin should be changed in the test rigs say once a fortnight owing to the rubber connections used on the glass tube. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/JBD.{John B. Dixon - Fuel Systems} | ||