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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).
Modifications to the battery ignition system and their effects on engine performance.

Identifier  ExFiles\Box 33\3\  Scan030
Date  1st November 1919
  
R.R. 235a (500 T) (S.D. 408. 26-4-17.) Bm. 2/156/15.

X.1812.B.

To BN.{W.O. Bentley / Mr Barrington} from R.{Sir Henry Royce}
Copy to CJ.
" " EH.
" " EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}

R4/G1.11.19.

RE BATTERY IGNITION.

X.3129. X.3713. X.3714. XE1812.

On Friday we changed the position of the coil to close to the distributor, and substituted a wooden trough for the metal tube supporting the wires. This made quite a passably neat arrangement, as you will see on receiving 1 EX and could be adopted with more substancial pieces quite quickly.

Though it is concluded and agreed that this re-arrangement must have a beneficial affect upon the ignition, it will not be found to be capable of definitely improving the running of the engine, which was slightly defective through one or more sooty plugs.

Though I should like to see this alteration made on all post-war cars and recommend that we do so, it is not an absolutely necessity as far as I can ascertain. I have now seen the effect of the following modifications:-

(1) Reversing the current in the coil - very slight effect, if any.

(2) Removing the coil high tension wire from the tube - very slight effect, if any.

(3) Changing the sparking plugs, two being sooty marked effect, perfect running for some time, after which the fault re-occurred.

(4) Removing the metal tube, and fitting wooden trough changing the position of the coil - very little effect.

(5) Changing two sooty plugs - marked improvement.

CONCLUSION - Though I agree and suggest that the modifications

Conta
  
  


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