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).
Responding to quarterly complaints regarding brake thumps, fabric coupling failures, clutch issues, and dynamo reliability.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\3\ Scan497 | |
| Date | 24th September 1932 | |
| NOT. c to Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} X4117 Challis Hd{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy}6/MW24.9.32. [STAMP: REC'D 26 SEP 1932] Re: Quarterly Complaints. C4/C17.9.32. We have now discussed the contents of this Memo. with Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} and we give below our remarks in connection with each of the items raised. BRAKE THUMPS: We do not think that pivoted brake shoes actually give rise to thumps, but our experience is that they have a tendency to make this trouble worse owing to the additional brake clearance which is necessary. A modification to the servo damper is being introduced in order to overcome this tendency on future cars. FABRIC COUPLING FAILURES. We agree that the new coupling is an improvement on the old one, but its life is still rather short particularly if the car is driven hard. Under such conditions we agree that 15,000 miles is the best that can be expected. The Experimental Dept. have a new form of coupling under consideration but this is not yet available. The matter will continue to have the serious consideration of the Design and Experimental Depts. CLUTCH COMPLAINTS. The chief complaint is slipping on the 20/25 HP. New cars have stronger clutch springs, altered leverages, and R.A.D.2 fabrics, and although it is admitted that we are still rather near the border line, the Experimental Dept. are now satisfied that we shall have very few complaints. One cause of complaint of slipping on recent cars has been traced to oil on the fabrics due to the automatic clutch spigot lubrication scheme which was fitted to a certain number of cars. This trouble should not recur, and we do not anticipate much more trouble with the new fabrics etc. DYNAMO COMPLAINTS. Dynamos now seem more reliable. The half charge scheme meets most customers requirements but further improvements are under consideration. We agree that access to the brush gear and commutator is still difficult but the Design Dept. are aware of the trouble and hope to make some improvement. Cont'd.{John DeLooze - Company Secretary} | ||