Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) A couple of questions all in one go.....!

Whilst fiddling with the tonneau cover I manged to drop the roof 'forward' onto the steering wheel and have chipped my rather beautiful MotoLita wheel. It's not damaged the wood, but has taken a big chip out of the varnish. Firstly, if I undo the Allen key things, will the wheel just come away or is there a science to it? Secondly, how best to repair the wheel? Take it to a furniture polishy person?

I notice that the coolant level is at the bottom (minimum) level. I'm not leaking anything... It's not water that goes in there is it? It's going to be what the handbook says (Motocraft Super Plus 2000). But mixed with water?

I was reading on another thread about checking bolts for tightness. Now I have 750 miles on mine, which bolts in particular should be checked?

Golly, lots of questions.

Thanks in advance for any pointers. Particularly on the steering wheel which has pee'd me off. My own damned fault.

Hi Neilda, re the steering wheel.
The wheel is removed by loosening the Allen key things.
I have just looked at mine and it appears to me that you may need to take off the horn push before you remove the steering wheel. Put some sort of marker to show the dead ahead position of the steering wheel when it is replaced.
The horn push has a wire with a spade attached to it, so be careful when removing the horn push to avoid damaging the connection.
Good luck with the repair.

Hi Neilda, I had to take my car into the dealer after 1000 miles, for oil change and to have the nuts checked for tightness, check with you garage if you are due a 1000 mile service and get them to do it.

When I took my car into the factory for its first annual service, I could see that they had checked all of the nuts for tightness, as some of the stone guard was marked by the use of scanners. For me having the garage check the nuts for tightness will be sufficient for me.

I'd get a small tin of gloss yacht varnish. With a small brush, fill in the chip, trying not to get any on the un-damaged surface. When it's dry, do it again. Continue until the damaged area is flush with the existing surface. Leave for a couple of days to harden, then smooth the surface with very fine wet or dry paper, then finish with Tcut or Brasso to get a good polish.



Remember the water will expand when the water's hot. If you get a bottle of the recommended anti-freeze, it should tell you the dilution rate.



Yours should be in for it's first service in 250 miles. Everything should be checked then. My experience is that anything mounted on the bodywork tends to work loose 'cause it flexes so much.

Ian

Is Motocraft Superplus 2000 an antifreeze? The coolant level was on its lowest point when the engine was hot..... Not good I guess.

Not sure I can tackle the wheel without bodging it.

Yes. Just keep an eye on it until it's service.
Ian

I might pick some up from Halfords and top up.....

Thanks.

Nail varnish works equally as good ! I used it on a guitar neck! Use a very fine brush or tooth pick and build up in layers. Hope this helps!

I see that yours is a new car but check the two White Plastic T Pieces just in front of the Reserve Tank. They are prone to getting hairline splits which weep oodles of fluid when under pressure. They are also amazingly expensive to have replaced so get them checked and if faulty changed under warranty. Just sliding your fingers under both of them will indicate if anything is coming out there.
Frank

Ian
Ive just done the same thing as Nellda!
Will try your remedy
Jeff