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).
Ignition failures on 20-HP cars due to moisture and condensation inside the distributor.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 47\4\ Scan087 | |
| Date | 22th February 1924 | |
| X. 4958 c. EFC. EP{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer}7/H22.2.24. X 4357, 20-HP Ignition Failures. We have had a number of complaints from 20-HP owners to the effect that they have experienced difficulty in starting up, but on investigating this complaint the trouble has not existed, nor has it been possible for the trouble to be reproduced. We recently, however, had a case of this description happen with a customers car where a demon-stration could be made to our inspector, and it was found that in this case the trouble was due to moisture on the inside surface of the distributor. Very careful investigation was made of this case in order to make sure that we were getting at the cause of the trouble, which as above reported, has been complained of on several occasions. We are quite sure that this moisture was the cause of the trouble since when this was cleaned, this being the only job done, the trouble disappeared. We bring this point forward as we feel that some action is necessary in order to overcome this condensation. In the first place we are taking every possible action to try and avoid the presence of water in the crankchamber, but apart from this it appears as though some extra ventilation is required for this distributor and we shall be glad if this point can be seriously considered and tests made and reported on, and if possible some alteration made so that the condensation of water on the distributor can be avoided. EP.{G. Eric Platford - Chief Quality Engineer} | ||