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 | Morton\M22\ img049 | |
| Date | 3rd November 1919 | |
| To D.M. from R.{Sir Henry Royce} Copy to CU. " EH. " &f.{Mr Friese} X.3129.X.3713. ORIGINAL / EX RE BATTERY IGNITION. R4/G1/11/19. (6. 3 NOV 1919 X.3714. X1812. On Friday we changed the postion 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 substantial pieces quite quickly. Though it is concluded and agreed that this re-arrangement must have a beneficial effect 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 absolute 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 lead 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 made above probably do considerably improve the sparking at the ignition plugs, and in case of defective coil or other fault (Contd.) | ||