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).
Clutch grabbing and slipping issues, detailing potential solutions and noting severe use complaints from New York.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\2\ scan0224 | |
| Date | 1st March 1929 | |
| - 2 - March 1st. 1929. At this stage the clutch still grabs, but also slips violently under heavy loads. The co-efficient of friction has evidently dropped very low. If running is continued the fabric disintegrates within the clutch and lets the clutch pedal come up against the floorboards, after which the car has (in one or two cases) had to be towed. We are trying the effect of cutting large ventilation holes in the back face and rim of the clutch, and sawcuts 3/4" wide through the fabric, so that while slipping there will be a continuous flow of air over the steel disc. It appears to us that a harder disc or fabric not quite so hard or abrasive in its action, more like the S. Ghost fabric, together with ample ventilation, should help to over come this trouble. We originally thought that extremely accurate setting of the four clutch fingers would overcome the trouble. This is only so on comparatively new clutches. After a certain stage setting of the fingers produces no improvement. We should welcome your comments on the above. We might add that the chief complaint is from New York where the use of the clutch is most severe. Yours faithfully, ROLLS ROYCE OF AMERICA. INC. (signed) Maurice Olley. | ||