Dan,
I believe I read on this forum of a compensator failure that took out the alternator (stator)and subsequently, the rectifier/regulator. That was obviously a little more than a clickety-clack.
The beating effect from a substandard compensator takes its toll on the balance of the drive train. Can't imagine it does anything to help the transmission, u-joints, bevel box or the driver, for that matter.
With that being said, as a compensator "loosens up", where do you draw the line? How much is too much? I can make mine hammer (which doesn't require an extreme amount of skill) or I can make mine reasonably quiet just by my driving technique. At that point, the M3W is dictating how to be driven as opposed to how I want to drive it. Naturally, it's going to make the most racket when there are other people around to hear it. When rolling into a reduced speed area, you still have to keep the RPMs up to keep the compensator pinned. To others, I bet they guess my car is stuck in 3rd gear running those kind of RPMs in a "relaxed" area.
On the bright side, I got an official PDF on the Centa install today. Other than the pulling of the engine, it doesn't look too challenging. No the engine pull wasn't included in the document. I like what I'm seeing on the Centa so far.
Z
Z, all very good points.
How bad is bad, is very subjective.
Thinking about it now, the rotor would be getting tons of shock load pulses with the same affect as an air hammer might do. The magnets are just glued in I believe so you lose a magnet and you could trash the complete motor and crank.
So you're right, don't drive when it's going south, but is it just down to Missouri or all the way to Texas south???
I guess in my mind if it were mine and I took if for a ride and it was clattering to a point I felt obsessive, I would not drive it and have it picked up.
Are you going to document your tear down and re-fit of the Centa drive? I wish I were closer and had the time, I would very much like to help on that project.
It sounds like your M3W is going to dictate a rather soon conversion by the sounds of it.
Good luck with the retro install.
