Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Compensator going out - how much time do I have

Just when it's starting to get warm my compensator is starting make some nasty rattling noises. Unfortunately my deal is 400 miles away. Does anyone have an estimate how long I can drive my M3W before it quits completely?

Hi.

I'd say that depends on the kind of noises I think.

My first started squeaking @ 500 miles and was not replaced till about 2000 miles; by which time it was rattling on tickover very audibly.

My second was replaced some few hundred miles later as the center nut had come undone leading to it sounding like this :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_7u5cZ05w5SUVhoSzVIeVVZMW8/edit?usp=sharing

Both were still drivable, but the second time i had to cross my fingers to get it back to the dealer!

Very useful video - we need a sticky called 'noises you don't want to hear from your M3W'. With no other point of reference I'd love to know what else I should listen out for like the bevel box falling apart...

A good "noise" video - thanks for posting v helpful for identifying the problem.Its a v painful noise to listen to!
Hope you got a new one ok and that the problem is now solved!

Got a "new" one of the old design and its holding up at the moment.

Fingers crossed!

Mine sounded exactly the same. It was the later unit with the grease nipple.
Seal had gone and it had lost all lube. I drove it home some ten miles. So say there was no damage to the unit apart from loss off lube. I'm having new style centa unit fitted this week. My concern was what damage does the gearbox sustain while the compensators are failing!!!

Keep us informed,show us pics if possible.if you may ask them,does the new centa compensators come with its casing?as a whole new replacement part

Mine sounded just like that last October when I took it to the factory for its 1st service. They said best get the train back as it might not last 150 miles.
Had a new old unit fitted with grease nipple. Does sound much better, but how long will it last?

Good point. Clearly the noise is attributable to more slop than desired and impact loading is transmitted to the gearbox in excess of a properly working compensator; which is there to stop the gearbox falling apart .

I understand that a friend was offered the same compensator again (but working this side of the warranty) as a fix or to pay the parts to "upgrade" to the new style rubber compensator while Morgan paid for the labour.

Surely it would be more appropriate for the factory to acknowledge that the original design has a habit of failing in this manner and to upgrade to the new improved design when addressing a warranty claim?

Thanks for the great video clip!

Yup, thats the same sound as mine is making, luckily not at idle yet so I/m hoping I still might have some time. I get the rattling noise at slow cruising speed, or when slowing down.

I think I will try shooting some grease in the unit if I can find the grease fitting. The hole in the bell housing is pretty small ≈ 10mm to 15mm.

Has anyone had any luck in adding more grease to the compensator to keep it happy a bit longer?