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).
Statement on the pre-launch inspection and engine trials of the 'Miss England II', detailing issues including jammed clutches.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 174\5\ img209 | |
| Date | 5th June 1930 | |
| Copy. STATEMENT RELATING TO ENGINES, INSTALLATION AND TRANSMISSION GEARS. Miss England II was placed on the slipway in Borwick's Boathouse on Monday afternoon June 2nd. Work was commenced immediately on the completion of the engines' and installation systems. After completion the following systems were inspected, tested and passed as satisfactory as far as was possible to do so. (a) Air Starting System quite in order after three leaking union joints had been tightened and functioned perfectly throughout the whole of the trials. (b) Petrol System in perfect order and required no adjustment throughout trials. (c) Water System as far as could be ascertained under static pressure tests was quite in order. (d) Oil System could not be tested for pressure until engines ran, but as far as could be ascertained by inspection the joints were well made. (e) Ignition System was examined and found to be in order. (f) Transmission gear appeared to be satisfactory from external examination. On Thursday morning, June 5th prior to launching, each engine was started up with clutch disengaged and the boat out of the water. The Starboard engine was first started up, and ran for a few seconds quite satisfactorily. Then the Port engine was started up and after turning over a few revolutions the clutch jammed and in driving the starboard engine through the gear box the other clutch seized. Our endeavours to free the clutches were not successful and Sir Henry decided to carry out the first launching run with the clutches jammed. No.1 Steel Propeller was fitted, 13" dia. 14" pitch. Day of launching - Thursday June 5th 2 p.m. contd: | ||