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).
Suggestion to investigate the gearbox arrangement to resolve difficulty engaging the 'SS' reverse gear.
| Identifier | WestWitteringFiles\T\2July1928-December1928\ Scan263 | |
| Date | 17th December 1928 | |
| FROM DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} Copy to - HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} SECRET 'SS{S. Smith}' REVERSE GEAR. X7310 HS.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} complained that he had experienced some difficulty in getting into reverse on SS.{S. Smith} car. We do not know whether the following suggestion is anything like the true explanation, but we think it would be worth investigating: On your general arrangement of the SS.{S. Smith} gearbox the position of the reverse wheels is shewn so that the wheel on the 3rd. motion shaft will be engaged before the wheel on the 2nd. motion shaft. The effect of this would be that if you were prevented from getting into the wheel on the 3rd. motion shaft it would not be possible to alter it by letting the clutch in and out, as is usually done. On our N. scheme 2450. we give a dimension, which was subsequently corrected in a letter, and if adhered to ensures that the 2nd motion shaft wheel is engaged before the 3rd. motion shaft. One confirmation of the suggestion that the wrong wheel is being engaged is found on the Derby general arrangement, in which the wheel meshing with the 2nd. motion shaft is shewn narrower than on our N. scheme. DA.{Bernard Day - Chassis Design} | ||