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).
Two failures, a hypoid axle and exhaust system, during a 20 HP 10,000-mile test in France.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\2\ 02-page209 | |
| Date | 14th March 1930 | |
| To SS.{S. Smith} from Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} c. to OF. E.{Mr Elliott - Chief Engineer} c. to HY.{Tom Haldenby - Plant Engineer} Da.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}8400 Ha/MJ.1/14.3.30. 11066 7270 20 HP. 10,000 MILES TEST IN FRANCE. We have had two failures on this car which we consider makes it necessary for us to extend the test in France in order to prove out the new pieces. Firstly, the hypoid axle definitely broke down. The design of this has been gone over and no satisfactory explanation has been arrived at. We have not had an opportunity of examining the axle in detail but we have had a fairly clear description of the failure from Hancock in France. The conclusion so far arrived at is that it must have been a faulty ball bearing. This failure, however, makes it essential that we should complete a satisfactory 10,000 mile test on the hypoid axle before we could think of standardising it. Although we have not ordered any material or committed in any way to bring the hypoid axle in on the 20 HP. car we think that whilst the car is there we should definitely take it to a position so that it can be standardised when convenient. The second failure which we have had on this car is the exhaust system. The exhaust manifold has broken on two occasions (it was repaired after the first time), and the exhaust pipe has also broken away at the flange. | ||