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Investigation into misfires on a 25.G.VI model, tracing the fault to a worn distributor bush.


Identifier  ExFiles\Box 168\3\  img225
Date  17th July 1939
  
6017 / 6119
COPY FOR FILES.

To Rm. {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} from Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /RC. {R. Childs}
Typed 17.7.39.

RE FAULTY IGNITION ON 25.G.VI.

Owing to a report of misfires on "pick-up" on the above car, an investigation has been carried out on the road in co-operation with Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /WB. {Mr Brazier / Mr Bell} and Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /EWC. This misfiring was produced on pick-up after a few minutes on the road. As the ignition coil was suspected, we changed over the spare coil with similar results. Both these coils were std. Wraith type. We next tried a Lucas Sports coil which has proved its ability to stand up to hot conditions. No improvement was effected.

We then replaced the experimental Lucas vacumatic type distributor with a similar unit made by Delco-Remy. This definitely cured the trouble. On examination we found that a worn Phosphor Bronze Bush allowed the contact plate assembly to move radially .008" to .010", and as this plate is rotated, relative to the governor shaft, through 6 degrees on extreme load conditions by the vacumatic control, the net result would be a poor break with a consequent low secondary voltage, which, under extreme engine conditions would not be sufficient to fire the sparking plug.

Rm {William Robotham - Chief Engineer} /RC. {R. Childs}
  
  
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).


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