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).
Road tests and modifications for cars 19-EX and 60.JS, focusing on radiator and wing stability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 27a\1\ Scan075 | |
| Date | 15th July 1932 | |
| LFS - X4013. To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} From G.W.H. Hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. 15.7.32. RE. 19-EX & 60.JS.{Mr Johnson's Secretary} We have had to curtail the mileage with 19-EX to carry out the work with 60.JS.{Mr Johnson's Secretary} The work and tests on the car 60.JS{Mr Johnson's Secretary} have been carried out without interruption and loss of time, as would otherwise have been the case, had we stayed in Paris. Our road test is within 20% as bad as any round Sevres, off the main road and quiet. We have rebuilt the front up standard. The car is now as good as any standard car for steadiness of radiator and wings on any road other than a very bad pot-holey road. We could have obtained still better results had we got 50% harder rubbers for the radiator mounting. Those fitted to 60.JS{Mr Johnson's Secretary} are of a very soft quality, whether they are the standard quality I am not sure, but if so, 50% harder would be beneficial for the French roads. We located the trouble of unsteadiness of the radiator to an inaccuracy in fitting of the rubber buffers of the radiator mounting. I enclose a sketch showing exactly what I mean. The two top rubbers in the cups either side, were not in compression or even touching. There was at least 1/16" slackness that could not be taken up. This was due to several causes. The flanged supporting tube extension was too long, or the thickness of the rubbers too thin, or the flanges on the bottom tank of the radiator wrong. The result of the road test is as follows after the modifications. On any give and take tarmac road, at any speed, the radiator is perfectly steady, the wing movement is very little, and is a natural period of same. There is no sign of jellying, (this car does not jelly). The car as received was appalling, indescribable. We have at least made an 80% cure. On our special 1 1/2 miles of really bad road, there are periods of movement of the radiator. I should say 20% more than with 19-EX. Bonnet knocks are 10% more than with 19-EX, slightly harder rubbers, as stated above, would have overcome this. The car can be driven 40 - 50 m.p.h. without any worse results. | ||