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).
Investigations into torque reaction dampers, front shock dampers, and gearbox issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 5a\3\ 03-page152 | |
| Date | 3rd December 1931 | |
| 15840 Hotel de France, Chateauroux, FRANCE. 3/12/31. To Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} From S.W.H. 18.G.17. You will have observed in our daily report of trouble being experienced with the torque reaction dampers. We are not at the moment quite clear of what is the real cause but the knock is identical to what was experienced with the torque reaction dampers on 25-EX. It is a distinct knock when the engine takes the torque and the movement of the engine is very small. It appears to be the initial movement of the dampers. We have taken both dampers down and dismantled them, and found in each case that the centre plate had been damaged, but the burrs that we found seem to be impossible to have been caused by the movement of the engine. To all appearances it looks as if someone had got a punch and had been knocking the dampers in position. We have therefore cleared away these burrs and refitted the dampers knowing that the condition is good, and in the event of any further trouble we shall be able to get definite information. The knock is very misleading and would be taken for a front shock damper knock. RE. FRONT SHOCK DAMPERS. During our investigation of the torque reaction dampers we bounced the car, and feeling at the two front shock damper levers we could distinctly feel and hear a dull thud coming from them. This was very pronounced on the N.S. damper but only very slightly on the O.S. damper. We will carefully watch these and see if they develop into an audible knock. RE. GEARS. As we have reported, there has been no sign of any of our gears coming out of mesh. I went out on the car after receiving your memo and tried all the gears to see if I could produce the trouble you said you were experiencing. I found that when driving at any speeds above 10 M.P.H. the load on the gears was such that trying to push the gears out of mesh, both on the forward drive and the retard, one could not do so without using force. At speeds from 4 - 10 M.P.H. there was no sign of the gears coming out of mesh, but, especially whilst in top, with a very light pressure by the hand on the change speed lever, the gear came out very easily, but definitely does not do so without applying, as stated, a light pressure by the hand on the change speed lever. I thought that this would be interesting because there may be a possibility of a driver unconsciously pressing the change speed lever with his leg or other part of his body whilst | ||