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).
Troubleshooting of electrical equipment, specifically coil connections and spark plug issues.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 108\1\ scan0413 | |
| Date | 24th February 1938 | |
| To. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer} c. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/RC.{R. Childs} 600a also 200a CHATEAUROUX 2/.24.2.38. 26.G.VI. & 6.B.IV. Electrical Equipment In response to various memos, the following work has been carried out and observations made. 1) Delco coil marked 5A received from Derby was fitted to 26.G.VI. It was connected up with the (-) marked terminal connected to the distributor. Misfires were experienced, so the primary connections were reversed connecting the distributor to the (+) marked terminal. This cured the misfires. It was then realized that the ballast resistance had been connected up in series, so this was taken out of the circuit and the (-) terminal again connected to the distributor. This appeared alright at the time but misfires have since occurred and became very bad up to 30 MPH. The coil was again reversed, with the (+) terminal to the distributor (and no ballast resistance) and the misfires completely disappeared. We are therefore, continuing to run like this until we hear from you unless more trouble develops. 2) Bentley K.L.G. FL.30.X plugs sparking to induction pipe. This occurred when the gaps became wider than .030" and has easily been reproduced. It is not confined to No 4 plug, any of them will do it. The coil being run on this car is the Lucas received from Works and fitted on 5.2.38. We fitted temporarily the Delco coil (marked 3A.) sent out as spare on 26.G.VI.) and found that it gave exactly the same effect as the Lucas coil when the plug gaps were wider than .030". 3) Burning of K.L.G. FL.30.X. plug gaps. As suggested in your memo, we have fitted the 640 and 641 Lodge Plugs out of 26.G.VI. in the Bentley to see if they burn as rapidly. The original K.L.G. plugs have been put back in the Wraith. ----------- Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/IMW.{Ivan M. Waller - Head of Chateauroux} Ivan A.{Mr Adams} Waller. | ||