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).
The problems with the fabric magneto drive, concluding with a recommendation to standardize the serrated magneto drive.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 172\3\ img034 | |
| Date | 10th June 1917 | |
| -2- DERBY D.10-6-17 M.23 T.100 S & S Hs{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair}5/LG27920. Contd. pinion is reasonably tight, the brake is not required. There should be no difficulty in producing engines with magneto pinions which do not cause rattles. The fabric drive has given us very good service but we have had one or two troubles. We have had great difficulty in getting the fabric discs to run true. We have had a number of communications with the makers of them on this point, and they say they cannot guarantee to produce fabrics as accurately as we require them. Although the fact of the fabric coupling running slightly out of truth may not be serious, it looks very bad to lift the bonnet and see the magneto drive wobbling round. It is also necessary, with the fabric drive, to be able to adjust the position of the magneto endways so that the fabric discs run in line. Although we have not had any trouble with the fabric joints becoming overheated when on the car, we find that on the test bed engine (this would also apply on the dynamometer) although they appear to cool themselves when they are revolving, if the engine is stopped down with the exhaust pipes very hot, it does make the fabric very soft and tends to frizzle. We recommend that we standardise the serrated magneto drive. Hs.{Lord Ernest Hives - Chair} | ||