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).
Issues and failures with a new VM 20 moulded clutch lining on several trial cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 93\3\ scan0268 | |
| Date | 16th February 1937 | |
| S/W. Rm.{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} 3/2 Cx{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager}12/KW16.2.37. You will have heard from Br this morning that we are in trouble with this new VM 20 moulded facing clutch lining, and it seems to have ruined the clutch of our London Trials Car 3-AZ-38, which was behaving quite well until we fitted this new lining in order to get the experience which you requested at the last Chassis Meeting at W. This is particularly unfortunate, as it has arrived at an awkward time when our Trials Car is full of appointments. You will remember at that Meeting I queried the wisdom of trying this clutch lining out on Demonstration Cars, but your assurance that it could not possibly make the clutch any worse than it was before decided us to have our own two London Trials Cars done together with the other cars about which I wrote you yesterday. I believe three out of the six have already given trouble - 3-AZ-38, about which Br spoke to you this morning; 3-AZ-30 (Pass & Joyce), the clutch of which is already reported as being most unsatisfactory since the job was done; and the third 3-AZ-34 (Car Mart) which I have heard has already been unsatisfactory as regards the clutch since it was fitted with this new lining when at W. recently. I suppose we can now look forward to having to change back to the old standard the clutch of 3-AZ-22 our other London Trials Car, and possibly 38-EX. I have stopped the fitting of this clutch lining to the sixth car reported to you yesterday, 3-AZ-222 Jack Olding, and we shall leave that car alone. Perhaps in due course you will let us know the cause of this trouble, as you would appear to have been misled in adopting this clutch lining when apparently it is not satisfactory from all points of view. Cx.{Major Len W. Cox - Advertising Manager} Lwgb. | ||