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).
Resolving issues with angle gears, crankshaft noise, and clutch problems related to steel plate buckling and fabric thickness.
| Identifier | Morton\M1.1\ img023 | |
| Date | 1st September 1921 | |
| Contd. -2- Hsl/LGS.9.21. ************ This will avoid us holding up the chassis for quietening the axle. The 14t angle gears are also in hand. There is nothing in the noise which we consider cannot be overcome without any serious alteration. There were two very distinct crankshaft periods on the car One was at 30 to 35 M.P.H., the other was at 47 to 50 M.P.H. We have since reproduced these same periods on the Test Bed by decreasing the friction on the damper. If we increase the friction on the damper these periods disappear. This is being done. We have had trouble with the clutches on both engines. In one case the clutch would not disengage. We found that this was due to the light steel plate buckling. In the second case, we had the clutch jagging when engaging. We found that this was due to the light steel plate running out-of-truth and to the fabrics not being perfect in thickness. We have experienced considerable trouble in keeping these light steel discs true when machining them. So far most of those that have been produced have had to be stretched after machining. Mr. Herbert Frood of the Ferodo Company, when he was at the works in connection with fabric for these clutches, considered that we should have consider- able difficulty in keeping the light thin disc true. He said he felt sure we should have to make it stiffer. EY. and myself also discussed with Mr. Frood that several makers using the single plate disc clutch actually take the drive through the fabric disc. contd:- | ||