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).
Test report comparing the Delco Remy and the Rolls-Royce ignition distributors.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 168\3\ img075 | |
| Date | 14th February 1939 | |
| BY.{R.W. Bailey - Chief Engineer} c. BY/RD. Rm{William Robotham - Chief Engineer}/CTS.{C. Trot Salt - Carburation}1/G.14.2.39. IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR. PURPOSE OF TEST. To compare the Delco Remy and the Rolls-Royce Ignition Distributor, on the following points :- (1). Required ignition advance characteristic, against degree of detonation. (2). This required ignition advance characteristic is obtained by adjustment on a rig in our Electrical Laboratory. We wish to know if their setting is sufficiently accurate, and therefore are they working to sufficiently fine limits for our requirements. Handwritten: more accurate than the bed method. (3). Actual variation in spark position, between cylinders. (4). Noise. (5). Initial setting and adjustment. PROCEDURE. Our first tests had led us to believe, that a higher maximum B.M.E.P. could be obtained with the Delco, than with the RR. This point was checked several times, and we find that the difference if any is negligible. There is a peculiar factor, however, in that a slightly different governor advance is required, to produce what turns out to be the same power loss, in avoiding detonation on both distributors. This means that if the RR. governor, is set to give the same advance curve as that required for the Delco, then detonation will be more pronounced with the RR. governor, at speeds between 15 and 30 M.P.H. (top gear), with the worst point at say 23 M.P.H. We have tried to account for this difference between the two distributors, by checking the voltage at the plugs. This is done by means of the Lucas peak voltage tester. As its name implies, this instrument measures the peak voltage only, which may not be what we are looking for. | ||