Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 2014 upgrades 1st impression

I have just driven my early m3w, circa 200th back from the dealer folling the 2014 upgrades
The comfort steering is great imho. It is slightly lighter and feels sort of meta stable in my hands so will turn with ease at city speeds. I can see why they call it comfort steering pack (dont want to upset some people)

The centra drive was also done along with the bevel box. The force of engine breaking is substantially reduced. Hence the overall transmission is greatly improved. The car generally feels great. Will get used to the fan installation ugly but unobtrusive to the driver when behind the wheel.
Despite my initial joy things were soon dampened.
At low speeds and under harsh acceleration ie at high torque, there is a clunking noise.
Is this normal for the centra compensator performong its function or does it mean the belt is slipping (unlikely)?

Mine had some driveline snatch and clonks at lowish revs and high gear, but I didn't have the car long enough to see if the situation would improve or get worse.

Rather bizarrely my late 2013 compensator which was sounding at tickover like a tumble drier full of bolts has now gone quiet. It's also pretty smooth - 2,200 rpm on light throttle in 3rd/4th/5th being quite acceptable.

I agree the "Comfort" steering mod is well worth doing - it transforms the car without diluting it's character.

If you query the S&S site as well as searching through all of the posts on this site, you will find that using the engine under any load below 2,700 rpm is a no-no. Aside from taking off from a start in first don't do it! Really! The group of people who have complained most loudly about the life and noise of the compensator have, for the most part, been lugging their engines. Lugging this motor is hard on the compensator, which is there to smooth out the pulses from that great big hammering V-Twin located in the front. It is designed to absorb the shock and smooth out the pulses so it doesn't eat the transmission. Just upping the rpm's will smooth it out to a great degree. Try it.

The operating range on this beast, is really between 3,000 and about 4,500 rpm. That is very narrow but you have gobs of torque to compensate. Below 3,000 you will get noise and bucking and general unpleasantness from the compensator. Above 4,500 the engine will have a tendency to get a bit ragged. It will do more, but I wouldn't push it. Shift into a higher gear.

In my experience, the sweet spot is around 3,500 to 3,800 rpm. Very smooth and easy. It could loaf like this all day without strain. You can accelerate easily or back off and slow down just using the engine.

In one of my posts, I likened it to a diesel. I still stick to that. A diesel doesn't lug well and cannot reach high rpm's but, due to the massive amount of torque you have on hand, can do amazing things within its capabilities.

An Addendum: In my estimation, the tachometer is more important that the speedometer. The speedometer is adjusted so that it will read probably under 5% of your true speed. Trust it as far as you can throw it. Like the gas gauge, that is totally accurate when you fill it up and it reads 100%. Anything after that is a guess...

The tachometer is accurate. It is your friend.

As Michael stated keep the revs above the 2700rpm in all gears and the car runs smoothly.

Yes that is right

The Centa unit makes low speed driving much easier than before but does introduce new noises into the mix.

2700rpm..? Seriously..?

2200rpm is no problem providing it's a light throttle.

Thats what is in the handbook, is the '14 different?

I've got the centa drive but it's a lot smoother when the revs are over 2700.

I've never laboured and engine(car or motorcycle) in 35 years of motoring.
I'm on my third compensator. Now a centa unit. The original design is elegant but useless on anything above the 1450 unit: a quick look on the Harley forums will back this up. I agree with the sweet spot on revs, unfortunately, it's a bit like driving a very low reving 2 stroke.