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).
Complaints and failures of faulty Lodge spark plugs during road and unit testing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 162\6\ img061 | |
| Date | 25th February 1924 | |
| XH425 c. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}9/H25.2.24. re. Faulty Lodge Plugs. Further to our complaints on the above, we have recently had a number of new plugs which have failed during their first run on the road. The plugs have not been used for dynamometer testing or unit testing. The plug does not appear actually to fail to ignite, but pieces of the internal porcelain break away. We attach sample showing the failure, marked 'A' so that you can take this up with the makers. We are also still suffering from the porcelain being loose, which is the complaint we made some time ago and this trouble still takes place when testing engines on the dynamometer and on unit test bed. We are able, however to send you a sample herewith, marked 'B', which has this failure and was found to have this fault immediately after being obtained from the Stores, the plug not having been used. Sample marked 'C' also sent herewith, illustrates loose porcelain which was noticeable after using the plug for 20 miles road running only. Other samples if required. We shall be glad if you will arrange for these plugs to be replaced so as to keep our stock square. We also feel the makers may will be anxious to supply us with, say, 1 dozen plugs to replace the faulty ones as per attached samples. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||