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).
Investigation and proposed solutions for slipping clutches on the 20/25 HP model.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 103\1\ scan0003 | |
| Date | 16th January 1933 | |
| 85300 To C. from Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} c. PN.{Mr Northey} Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} H.{Arthur M. Hanbury - Head Complaints} c. N.Dept. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson}1/KT.16.1.33. 20/25 HP. SLIPPING CLUTCHES. With reference to C2/C11.1.33. and PH13/PH13.1.33. It is always easy to blame design. However, it is quite impossible to ask designers to make an alteration until an intelligent explanation of the trouble has been obtained. So far we have had no assistance whatever from N., where ten out of the thirteen complaints mentioned have been treated. The only concrete piece of evidence which we recollect was when Br.{T. E. Bellringer - Repair Manager} took the trouble to drive a car from London to Derby with an alleged slipping clutch on which, if we remember rightly, he entirely failed to reproduce the trouble. Experimentally we have 30 to 40,000 miles to our credit without running into clutch slip on the synchromesh 25 HP. cars. Stronger clutch springs is the least intelligent way of tackling the job, as is shewn by the fact that in the cases where it has been applied, it has not always produced a cure. Putting up the strength of the springs still further will merely make the car intolerably unpleasant to drive without stopping the slipping, if this is due to oil, as we suspect. We suggest that the lubrication hole should be completely blocked off on the next case where the clutch has to be re-lined, and if this again slips, we shall have some evidence to work upon. Hd.{Mr Hayward/Mr Huddy} agrees that he has NOT been able to give us sufficient evidence to come to any sort of conclusion. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/Rn.{Mr Robinson} | ||