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).
Production inspection, adjustment, and test procedure for the Spectre ignition distributor and contact breaker.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 61b\2\ scan0265 | |
| Date | 25th September 1935 | |
| PRODUCTION INSPECTION ADJUSTMENT & TEST OF SPECTRECodename for Phantom III IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR AND CONTACT BREAKER. A.{Mr Adams} (1) Main distributor and contact breaker test. Inspection shall be made that the contact points are exactly opposite with contact surfaces bedding centrally. This can be done accurately and should be done, by running the distributor with a coil as the surface of the points will be characteristically marked where electrical contact has occurred. The contact points should be adjusted until this mark becomes central on their surface. (2) The contact breakers shall be connected up to an ammeter, a twelve volt batter, and a non-inductive resistance of zero temperature coefficient, all in series the last named being of such value to permit the flow of exactly one ampere when the points are in contact. The distributor shall then be driven at a speed of 800 R.P.M. The correct contact point setting will then be such as to permit a flow of .73 ampere during rotation. The resulting gap should be noted for future reference and should lie between .028" and .030" but the adjustment should be initially carried out as above. During this test it should be noted that there is no indication of fouling between the rotor blade and H.T. spark points in the distributor head. (3) The contact breakers must break contact every 30 degrees in rotation with a tolerance limit of plus or minus one degree, this limit must be strictly adhered to. This test, should be carried out by means of a disc, marked in degrees fitting over outer spigot of distributor head, and with a pointer fitted to the shaft, a lamp, and battery in series with contact breakers, the degrees of break can be accurately obtained. (4) The distributor connected up as in (2) above should be run at a speed 2250 R.P.M. when the average current should not be less than .70 ampere. If it is less, the contact breaker lever spring is probably faulty and another spring should be tried. | ||