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).
Failures and experiments with ignition distributors and the flywheel and clutch assembly.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\3\ scan0232 | |
| Date | 9th September 1938 | |
| -/1- Ignition Distributor. LOR.DM.{D. Munro}291. Delco Remy distributor. The governor weight was broken and one cracked. Several driving pins broke allowing the driving dog to turn on the spindle. The unit otherwise was satisfactory. Rolls-Royce distributor (now cheapened type). The governor frame cracked. The retaining pin for the spindle carrying the weights came out allowing the parts to come adrift. The contact breaker arm came loose on its bush. The rotor blade fouled the contacts. The driving pin broke. Periodic misfiring at high engine speeds occurred. A spring drive is to be incorporated to safeguard the distributor from engine vibration effects. The new R.R. distributor is to be used for production. The Delco distributor must, however, be considered more satisfactory to date. Flywheel and Clutch LOR.DM.{D. Munro}902. Thermoid facings for clutch. The clutch remained generally smooth on engagement. Occasional jaggers were experienced. It was very near the limit for slip on engagement but considered satisfactory for normal use. Experiments with centrifugal assistance for the clutch springs are in progress to improve this. Excessive clearance developed between the lugs of the pressure plate and the casing, due to wear and vibration. When the pedal was depressed the stop on the crankcase hammered against the pedal lever. A modification is instructed for production using rubber on and off stops on the pedal stem itself. The existing rubber off stop collapsed. An experimental cable replacing the flat stay between the engine and pedal shaft, was effective in slightly reducing vibration on the pedal but tended to promote clutch jaggers and was therefore discarded. The withdrawal mechanism rattled at high engine speeds; experiments with flexible flywheels are hoped to improve this and the wear of the lugs. | ||