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).
Cause of slipping clutches on the 20/25 HP model, identifying a glazed condition and a small design safety margin as the problems.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 103\1\ scan0002 | |
| Date | 13th January 1933 | |
| S/W. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} ✓ Re: 20/25 HP. Slipping Clutch. With reference to C2/Cl.1.1.33. of which you spoke to me when at Derby yesterday. I have enquired of Br as to the particulars of the 13 chassis quoted in which the clutches give trouble and he states that in every case particulars of what the trouble was and how the trouble was dealt with have been as usual sent to Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} and that you have easy access to these particulars. Consequently, it will not be necessary for me to go into the matter in detail with you. I would only remark that from what I have been able to gather, slipping does not appear to have been caused by oil getting on to the surface but rather that a glazed condition has been brought about and, in practically every case, new fabrics have been fitted as the cost of this is obviously quite small compared with the labour involved. I fear that we have to take the view that the present standard clutch with the present standard gear box has so little margin of safety that a very small amount of bad foot handling which, of course, is inevitable among owners, etc., may cause trouble. Design and again design. PN.{Mr Northey} --- | ||