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).
Test report on the performance of the clutch, brakes, brake pedal, and gear lever centralising spring.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 90\1\ Scan177 | |
| Date | 19th March 1936 guessed | |
| (sheet 2) The clutch was given what I should call normal usage in these cases. No doubt in an emergency the car could have been re-started on the 1 in 6 on 2nd. These results rather indicate that our 25-30, although capable of climbing 1 in 3.2 in the proposed gear of .35 when laden to 45 1/2 cwts might be somewhat difficult to re-start on 1 in 4. The same applies to the standard 20/25 with the existing .3 bottom gear. The theoretical starting ability diminishes with higher ratios due to the increased speed that must be given to the car before the clutch can be fully engaged for a given minimum engine speed so that it would appear that we cannot follow up improved power weight ratio with higher bottom gears in the same proportion. It may also be that a good road surface by preventing wheel spin is actually detrimental to starting in some cases. Clutch. Slight jaggers occurred. A perceptible interval elapsed before the complete engagement took place if the accelerator was depressed somewhat in advance of the release of the clutch pedal. Brakes. No fading was noticed although driven fairly hard (Red Gate in 38 mins). Although the hand brake would hold the car on 1 in 6 it made little impression on the car when descending Duncton, and would not bring the car to rest on this hill when on the move. The idea that the hand brake is of use as an emergency brake needs some modification. Brake Pedal. The clearance between the brake pedal and the steering column is insufficient to allow the foot to be placed centrally on the pedal plate. However, after a time this was not particularly noticed. Gear Lever Centralising Spring. As I understand it the reasons for the provision | ||