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).
Damaged clutch driven plate on Professor Dodds' car, caused by a metal splinter during gearbox assembly.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\2\ scan0117 | |
| Date | 12th May 1936 | |
| W/S - Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD} X261 Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Smth.6/KW.12.5.36. Professor Dodds' Car - B-34-GA. Re Sg.{Arthur F. Sidgreaves - MD}3/E.11.5.36. in X212 (clutch) We found that the leading edge of the splines of the driven plate had been damaged, presumably when fitting the gearbox and first motion shaft during assembly. A splinter of metal from this source was lodged between the working surfaces of the splines, and we think the jaggering of the clutch was caused by this. There is clearance at the root of the splines and it is possible that the splinter was at first lodged there, out of harm's way, and was not displaced until the car had been running for some time. We fitted a new driven plate, and the clutch was satisfactory when we left the car. We are arranging to put a lead on the splines of the first motion shaft in the future so as to lessen the danger of damaging the hub during erection. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Smth. | ||