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).
Vehicle issues including carburettor, transmission, synchro-mesh, tyre noise, and clutch modifications.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 30\1\ Scan235 | |
| Date | 1st October 1935 | |
| - 2 - Carburettor Flooding This matter seems to be diminishing as was anticipated, and the Trials Cars seem to be giving no trouble in this respect, which bears out W's contention. Chunking in Drive This question is still in the process of investigation, and seems to be largely a question of clearance all throughout the transmission. Wor{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} stressed the fact that fine limits is the real cure as wear will alter these and put us back where we were. However, N.Sch.4680 has been issued as the next step in this development, which limits the clearance. Synchro-mesh Mechanism It was agreed that this was definitely bad and worse than on P.II or 20/25. It was considered due to the inconsistency of cones, the cause of which has not yet been discovered. Better bedding of the cones may help and investigations are continuing. Reference was made to the temperature of the gearbox as possibly affecting this also, and that either a bigger box or an air cooling scheme would help to provide operation of S/M mechanism. It was agreed that the WORKS will not deliver cars with this defect. Tyre Noises Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} has obtained from Dunlops another modified tyre suitable for demonstration, and is having two sets sent to London at once for fitting to Demonstration Cars. It is considered that the noise is created by the outer edge of the tyre and that different kinds of wheels make no difference. Schemes of insulation by sound damping material are being tried. Also rubber blocks are being inserted in the bottom triangulation of front suspension. The dashboard and bonnet are being considered as part of the body and insulated from the chassis as well as the body, from which the dash is also being separated. It has been demonstrated that perfectly plain tyres are quite silent, and that 90% of the noise which is complained of emanates from the rear part of the car. At this juncture the point was raised of sending two people to America to investigate the elimination of tyre noises on American cars, also chunking in the drive and steering, as well as many other points even involving the respective merits of Straight Eight and Vee Eight engines, etc., one representative from Experimental and one from Design Departments to be detailed for this journey. They are to go at once and to be back in this Country before Christmas. Clutch A modified clutch with short splines opposite disc is being tried, and if successful W. will loan S. 33-EX while 34-EX is converted, as the clutch on this car has been very | ||