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).
Report from France detailing failures of a front axle, clutch, and crankshaft damper during testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 82\3\ scan0212 | |
| Date | 19th April 1935 | |
| GRY{Shadwell Grylls} HOTEL DE FRANCE CHATEAUROUX. Indre. France. 19th April 1935. To HS{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From G.W.H. 5 B IV. This is to confirm that the front Axle with the 14 inch brake drums is now useless, and we cannot use it. The necks have been twisted making the lean of pivot forward. This has been checked by Paris, after stripping the Axle, on their face plate. We have obtained the old 4° Transverse Axle that we ran on the 4 B IV. We wish to know whether you require the Axle to be despatched to Derby. The 14 inch brake drums are hopeless with the present Axle. CLUTCH. The Springs falling out of position finally caused it to not function. The lugs apparently had broken during the afternoon's run, as occasionally the drivers reported that there was a feeling of the Clutch not engaging. The Clutch plate does not appear to have suffered any damage, it is therefore a question of making the driving plates of the shaft in different material, and strengthening up. Our program was to have run one day's mileage to see everything was right, then we should have taken the Propellor Shaft damper off. We shall now have to wait until, we have tested the new Clutch. CRANKSHAFT DAMPER. We should be much obliged if you could supply us with some stronger springs to try and increase the damper poundage. G.W.H. G.W.Hancock | ||