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).
Extract discussing clutch shudder issues on low gear and reverse, its potential causes and solutions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 74\2\ scan0341 | |
| Date | 17th October 1921 | |
| X.4244 17.10.21 Extract from R9/G17.10.21 X.4219. CLUTCH. X.4244. Referring to the clutch, we fear you will have great difficulty in getting rid of the shudder reports on the low gear and the reverse. We believe that this can only be attacked by varying the materials, unless the clutch having the plate carried on a flexible centre will cause the action to be less intermittent. The reason why this only appears on the low gears we think is that the natural period of vibration of the clutch driven disc is much slower on these gears owing to the apparent increased flexibility of the transmission. We believe, however, that there is no way of altering this. In fact, we think it is very difficult for the clutch not to have such a fault unless it is an oiled clutch such as is used on the 40/50. If, however, the shudder appears to be distinctly less with a higher engine speed ot a change of engine speed, there may be some hope of a change in the proportions or materials doing some good. Unfortunately, however, the phenomenon of friction at rest and friction in motion has a tendency to set up a shudder. R.{Sir Henry Royce} | ||