Good to hear from the owner that you picked his M3W up and took it away for rectification of the problem. Exactly the right solution.
I have been on the 3w scene long before you appeared.
Though Vintage Morgan 3W is much more appealing to me.
I carried out one of the first Centa conversions even before the issue of Centa spline wear or drive roller hardness was known about.
Phil asked me if I was interested in being a South West agent in the early days of his business taking off. I declined, however,
I fitted a kit to a Swindon based owner, Gerald Lawford. There were issues that I spotted in the parts supplied and Phil came down to Somerset to take a look. He then supplied modified parts. The kit was fitted and the car put into use.
A few weeks later a rattle developed that neither Phil nor other M3W experts could identify.
Much discussion with Phil led to him asking us to get the car to him.
Sadly on the day we were to drive up to Cumbria Gerald suffered a heart attack driving his M3W to meet up with us.
His car crashed into a lorry and he died on the M4.
We reckon this was the first time the issue of Centa spline fit was to raise its head.
But we will never know.
I worked with Phil fitting my Centa and spent time with him to understand the important fitment.
The whole set up is flawed and has ongoing issues.
In Holland this owner asked for help as he said he had been sent rollers to replace Bleazey ones. We all know why.
He never said how long he had them he simply said he had tried to change them but was unable to as the bolts on the retaining plate were too tight.
Working in a hotel car park with only the small ratchet and allen key I found the bolts were way too tight, so tight the allen key gave up on one of them.
The owner and I agreed to not proceed any further as to do so we may have left the M3W in a situation where he could not drive home.
The whole point of the conversion is to enable roller replacement at the roadside, this was not possible.
Someone overtightened those four bolts.
The list of who it could be is rather short.
IBy the way I don't eat Weetabix, I am a Shredded Wheat Man, AND I have four !
Ian Parkinson
