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).
Recurring clutch failures on Bentley cars and the potential solution of fitting a Borg & Beck clutch.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 129\2\ scan0125 | |
| Date | 25th November 1935 | |
| W/S - C. c. to Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} X1110 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}35/KW.25.11.35. Clutch Failures on Bentleys. We see from the Quarterly Complaint list that a considerable amount of trouble is being experienced with Bentley clutches. As you know, we have just changed over to the latest type of clutch on B-10-DG, as this owner completely destroyed the standard Bentley clutch twice in 7,000 miles. It occurs to us that there are certain other customers who ought to be treated in the same manner. The total may possibly not exceed half a dozen. These people, with their peculiar manner of driving, can completely wear the clutch out in 2,000 miles. It is no good telling them that it is their bad driving because their reply is that they do the same thing on American cars and it does not occur. Each time we re-line one of these clutches the cost is £8.0.0d. I do not know how many times we do this free of charge, but it seems to me that in these difficult cases it would pay to give them a new type clutch which we know has three or four times the life of the old one. The cost of fitting the Borg & Beck clutch is about £23.0.0d., from which can be deducted £2.10.0d. the cost of the propellor shaft damper, which can be removed if the Borg & Beck clutch is fitted, and used on another car. It will be seen that this costs as much as three replacements of the original clutch, but on the other hand it is likely to give the owner lasting satisfaction. We hope to get an exact figure of merit for this clutch in the hands of a bad driver in the case of B-10-DG. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} Perhaps it would be as well to wait for a short time before coming to any decision, to see how this customer gets on. | ||