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

I agree with everything Michael wrote. On my 2014 M3W with the centa unit acceleration under 3000 rpm does a lot of vibration. Between 3000 und 4500 everything is very smooth but the sound sweepspot is at 2.800 :-)

Thomas

The engine isn't lugging at 2,200 as long as you keep it on a light throttle. It also corresponds fairly nicely to 30 mph in 3rd, 40 in 4th and 50 in 5th which is handy for going through town/village speed limits.

As soon as the road's clear then 3,000 upwards is the fun zone

My point (perhaps not very well made) is that the "old" compensator had it's good points when it works and there could be a low rev compromise with the 2014 Centra unit.

I'm sure as more Centras get out in the field we'll get more feedback.

I think so with nipple it is very quiet
You just need to put grease so often

Mine is smooth until about 2900-3000 RPM when there is a noticeable vibration at wide throttle openings, particularly in 3rd and 4th. Have found my driving styles adapted - gentle throttle openings below 3000rpm and it's then very relaxing. Or if I'm in more of a hurry I keep the revs clear of the 3000 rpm vibration spot. Not really an issue now I'm used to it and a small price to pay to get rid of that awful noise.

There is still plenty of backlash in the system, mainly at the bevel box and you can get the odd clunk unless you're smooth at low revs, but now sits just one clunk, not a continuos back and forth rattle.

The most noticeable improvement of the Centa drive unit is that you can now drive through built up areas at 30 mph in 3rd gear, without the car sounding like an embarrassing bag of nails or sounding like a boy racer in 2nd. I can also now drive gently past horse/rider without horses wanting to bolt...

The comfort kit and compensator changes have really made a big difference to my enjoyment of the M3W and it's now a tough choice on the fun/enjoyment stakes between my TA special and the M3W....a battle that it was losing badly before the changes. I now feel I have to take both cars for a spin at every opportunity.

I was toying with selling it he M3W before the upgrades, but now I think it'll be a keeper and I'm really enjoying driving it and tinkering with it again....now I've just got to find a way of replicating the chassis stiffness upgrades so I can avoid those dreaded chassis cracks....

This really is a great little car!!

I agree with Steve on this.

I've been told that on my 110" Harley to not ride under 3000 rpms and if that were the case, I'd never be able to use 6th gear for my riding.

2000 to 2500 is no problem for me and I do NOT lug my motor, but only use light throttle.

I believe what's happened is that there are some short comings in V-twin motors and this recommended rpm range is going to get better driving results.

45 degrees as the Harley has is not a good degree for a balanced motor. They can only be dynamically balanced for one rpm, or a range above and below so to speak; that will be the sweet spot to drive or ride in.

A 90 degree motor can be balanced, but a 56 degree as S&S uses can only be slightly better balanced than a Harley "A" motor.

So from a rode feel vibration range, their recommended rpms will provide that very well, a smoother motor.

Liberty only used the Harley "B" motors which are internally balanced with balance shafts to counter act the 45 degree balance issues. The "B" motors are also mounted rigidly to the frame without rubber mounting that the "A" non counter balanced motor uses. I will say that with the very rubbery mounts that Harley uses, my Twin Cam runs very smoothly down the road at any rpm, but the motor is still vibrating and I just don't feel it because of the mounting system they use.

I've tried to keep my rpms up, but it's not easy as these motors are torque monsters and love that 2000 to 2500 cruising range a lot. When I rode over 3000 in every gear like in town riding, my wife even hit me on the head and asked what the heck I was doing, showing off with the loud exhaust...

My gut says that the problem with the compensators is not due to rpms, but with this size motor and torque it has, you'll be going through them as fast as you can install them. I'm sorry that's a bit of an exaggeration, but some of you will continue to have issues and some of you will be "lucky" and have no issues. I've 13k miles on my 2 generation old compensator design and I've not had a problem, but I think it's just a matter of time for me. The Centa being a totally different Cush Drive type compensator may allow the "normal" driving rpm ranges without any adverse affect.

From what I've gathered from all of you guys, the Centa is probably the only right way to move forward; as someone else said, the Harley design is crap and will not hold up on this large of motor for very long, grease or no grease.

Harley's latest SE Rev4 compensator is designed to be fed oil via a glue in oil deflector that goes inside the primary cover. They also took out the nylon washer on the rotating sprocket side and replaced it with a Torrington bearing, that's the reason for the oil to be dripped onto the compensator. But alas, even these are having their issues.

I'm not sure I'd be comfortable driving at those increased rpms, especially in town driving where you're in second or third gear.

What's the rpms at 60 mph in 5th gear?

I think that sums it up fairly well to be honest.
I think the 3W is too high geared, 5th is a bit of a waste of time in the UK.
a bigger rear sprocket would do the trick, wouldn't it?

I agree with Chris regarding speed in gears, this is pretty much what I adopt. I dont think that 5th gear is useless in UK & I have the old compensator. Perhaps the roads round Matty are particullarly slow. There are plenty of fine open roads in Aberdeenshire but few dual carriageways & some of them are restricted.

Tim.

I've managed a few more miles of testing the new compensator this afternoon . I can't say I've noticed vibration at any revs , and agree on light throttle it's ok at just above 2000 revs . Overall it feels much smoother and tighter somehow .
As there's been so many changes to my car in one go , it's difficult to analyse where all the improvements have come from but it also seems to pull more smoothly through to 5000revs , the pinking has also disappeared , overall a vast improvement .

As for not needing fifth gear ....I often think a sixth one would be handy ! But that's probably why I've got 6 points while driving it ....

Just been on BetFred and put a fiver on you having more penalty points than France in the world Cup..

I think the M3W gearing is ok for most uk roads - sltho u have to work the gearbox this is fun!

However when I went up Prescott on the fun run it was clear that the gearing was way too high - just for this Hill that is - its a tight track - and so coming out of Pardon hairpin was tricky as was The Left hander out of the Essess!