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).
Complaints regarding engine coupling rattles, comparing pre-war and post-war cars.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\3\ scan0063 | |
| Date | 9th August 1920 | |
| Handwritten note (top left): Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} By Please note & return EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} with your comments. Handwritten note (top right): X 4191 EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} 31/8/20 (2) Typed content: Long Island City, August 9, 1920 EWC3-AM9830 To: Mr. Olley Copy: Mr. Belnap Mr. Nadin EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} From: Mr. Caswell Re: Engine Coupling Rattles We have been receiving several complaints regarding the rattling of the engine coupling. Although the coupling may have .001" or .003" slackness, I do not believe this is responsible for the trouble. We are continually overhauling pre-war cars which have a considerable amount of slackness through out the transmission. With the gear lever in high position we obtain anything from 2" to 2 1/2" of movement on the circumference of the back tire while the post war cars have as little as 1/8" to 3/4". If a pre-war car with 2" of slackness does not rattle, I do not believe taking up .001" slackness in the engine coupling, which may perhaps reduce the movement on the back wheel from 1/8" to 7/16", is worth bothering about. I feel convinced the trouble is due to the back axle which leaves the road more readily on the post war cars than on the pre-war models. It is most objectionable to drive a car of the present series over anything but a dead smooth road, there being a continual rattle through out the transmission which is due to the rear tires leaving the road. This trouble was more noticeable on chassis 8-PP, the first of the new series that I tested. The car was fitted with a touring body which weighed complete 4350 lbs. With one or two passengers the rattling was appalling and called forth comments from who ever rode in the car. It was like driving a different car to have it loaded up with five people and fitted with lightly inflated fabric tires; one felt that the tires really remained on the road. It would be very interesting to try a post war car with a set of pre-war cantilever springs to see whether this trouble; that is, the apparent looseness in the transmission, could be overcome. Without listening for it, it is possible to hear the movement of the rear wheel driving dogs, a state of affairs that never existed in the pre-war cars unless the transmission generally and driving dogs were loose which would only happen after many thousands of miles use on the road. EWC Stamped content: TEST DEPT 20 AUG. 20 RECEIVED | ||