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).
Causes of clutch failures in the 25 HP model, attributing them to design flaws exacerbated by traffic conditions.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 103\1\ scan0207 | |
| Date | 29th January 1936 | |
| Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/GWH.{George W. Hancock - Head Chateauroux}8/KW.29.1.36. 25 HP. Clutch Failures. We are aware that the 25 HP. clutch has always been near the slipping point. It only requires a light pressure on the clutch pedal to cause it to slip. We have constantly reminded drivers to keep the foot off the pedal while driving. When reports have come through of these clutches slipping, our first thought has been that it has been driven with a heavy foot on the pedal. Our recent experience of London traffic has proved to us that in a great many instances the car has to be held by the clutch. The slow moving traffic makes it impossible to drive with the foot off the clutch pedal; consequently there is at all times a creeping of the clutch, and even when for a short period of traffic clearance the weight of the foot is still kept on the clutch pedal, which allows a slight creeping of the clutch all the time. It is obvious from this experience that the present design of the 25 HP. clutch will slip and burn out the fabrics, and no changing of fabrics will delete the trouble. Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}/G.W.Hancock. | ||