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).
Inspection report detailing the condition of various vehicle components including the engine coupling, clutch, axle, brakes, and springs.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\N\July1925-September1925\ Scan34 | |
| Date | 30th September 1925 guessed | |
| - 9 - Engine fabric coupling. This coupling, after 21,624 miles, has not deteriorated since our last report. The fabric is quite sound, and we consider this coupling to be quite O.K. Clutch. We took the opportunity of dismantling the clutch, and found that the fabric on the pressure plate had sheared off the rivets three quarters of the way round. From the appearance of the fabric, it looked as though the counter-sinking for the rivets was too deep, leaving insufficient fabric to maintain a good hold. We have fitted a new fabric. We also found the distance piece, which is formed like a spring, broken in three places. These were immediately reported to Derby. After refitting clutch up, the picking up of same was not so good as previously. The clutch was inclined to be on the fierce side, and jaggered slightly, but it has improved and is now almost equal to the old clutch. Front Axle. This is still in good condition. Axle pivots. Modified axle pivots to N. Sch.1896. Distinct wear is now noticeable in the bearings. N.S. shows more wear than the O.S. Front brake mechanism. Modified operating shaft with larger bearings to N. Sch. 1895. These are still in a fair condition. There is a slight wear noticeable in the bearings, but this is not detrimental to the working of the brakes. Pull rods operating these shafts have worn considerably at the ball ends. All adjustment has been taken up that is possible. There is now quite a lot of slack in these couplings. Front brake drums & shoes. New shoes were fitted at Paris, but these are not our standard shoes, as the Paris depot did not stock these. The fabric is of a much softer material, and is wearing quickly. We also had the brake drums skimmed up at the same time. There are now slight score marks. Front brake operating shafts on axle. These are in a fairly good condition. Slight wear is noticeable in the bearings. Front brake equaliser situated at rear of O.S.F. spring. The bearing for equaliser in spring housing - considerable wear has taken place. This is the worst feature of the front brake mechanism. Front springs. O.S.F. spring has been replaced by one sent from Derby. This replaced the temporary one fitted. The broken spring, as reported, had run 10,811 miles. N.S.F. spring is still O.K. | ||