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).
Burnt valves, pre-ignition causes related to spark plugs, and engine performance observations.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 33\3\ Scan238 | |
| Date | 29th December 1922 | |
| To Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} from R.{Sir Henry Royce} c. to CJ. BJ c. to PN.{Mr Northey} Wor.{Arthur Wormald - General Works Manager} c. to RG.{Mr Rowledge} BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. to HM.{Capt. W. Hallam - Head Repairs} OY. c. to EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} X1812 b.. RL/M29.12.22. RE. BURNT VALVES X.2764. X.1812. X.3733. I am very pleased you find my fears of close clearance to be unfounded, and that it is difficult to destroy the valves of either Goshawk or 40/50 by the various means you have tried. I agree with your aero experience of pre-ignitions as to the probably cause of the occasional failures experienced. K.L.G. plugs with a cavity might cause pre-ignitions to occur at the commencement of compression stroke, such as would fit in with your suspicions of time of pre-ignition which destroys valves. I suggest plugs with porcelain like old 4 pointer Bosch would not cause such pre-ignitions. In conclusion I am grateful you find all our valves so very satisfactory, and not fastidiously particular as to quality of steel, clearances, or angles or aera of faces. I conclude they are not fastidious from your difficulty in causing damage to them. I notice that the Hawk engine here has six excellent compressions, suggesting that the valves and pistons are extremely gas-tight. This is so necessary for good slow speed running, and for power at slow speeds, but this virtue is the probable reason why our engines shew vibrations caused by s,low speed torque re-action. You will remember that EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} reported that contd:- | ||