Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Bevel Box...Nature of the Beast

It's not what you think. Along with my M3W, I have had a SlingShot on order since July 28th...still waiting but us reverse three wheeler people aren't used to instant gratification anyway.

My local dealership, did, however, receive some of the SL models which have all the bells and whistles but only come in red. I ordered a base model (titanium in color) and upgraded to SL through factory options...the base models are just starting to trickle out of the plant.

At any rate, my dealer received two SL's...one went to a customer who was on the waiting list and the second was retained by the dealership as a demo model. I went by the dealership Saturday to get a status update on mine...while there, I took their demo for a ride.

I had to wait on other demo drivers to return in the 3W so I could take my turn. The Slingshot had been in use all day as lots of people are demoing them.

I'm good friends with the folks at the dealership...the fact that this is the 7th vehicle to purchase from them this year probably helps in that respect. So off I go...with the stipulation that the traction control not be turned off during the demo...of which I agreed.

At start-up, the engine sounds under-whelming due to the quite exhaust but it does run good. I drove it like it was stolen or in anger...taching it up hard in every gear. It dives into corners like a sports car...and will "drift" around conrners even when traction/stability control are activated. Brakes seem a little mushy for the first bit of travel but get better the deeper you get into them (much like the M3W). After about 25-30 minutes of abuse, we pulled back into the dealership.

Once parked, I immediately got out and checked the temp of their "bevel box". I could lay my hand anywhere on the box and keep it there. That is not an option on my M3W bevel box...it runs 180 degrees on a good day and have seen as high as 240 degrees before flushing the goop out.

Though some of the new Slingshot owners have posted that the Slingshot bevel box makes a little whine...it is nothing in comparison to the Morgan. High temps for a right-angle gear box pulling a belt drive isn't mandatory.







Admittedly, it isn't as cool, elegant or refined (in appearance) as the M3W and it is something you can take a water hose to while cleaning the interior. It is a lot of plastic...much like the off-road side-by-sides...but mechanically, it is a hoot and closer to what a M3W should have been.

I'm not giving up on my M3W (that cost in excess of what 2 Slingshots cost) but the SlingShot will be a constant reminder to me of how Morgan didn't do their homework.

With the SlingShot...I see a speeding ticket, reckless driving ticket or both in my near future.

Z

Zak.Had a demo in richard thorns a couple of years ago it was a bag of spanners,i also had a demo this year at the factory in a brand new uprated 2014.The bump steer was very much reduced but im sad to say during the day the beval box was getting louder and louder it wasent only me that noticed,the car didnt really stop for quite a few hours everybody having a turn.Ihave to say morgan were in total denial of any issues except for one member of staff who opened up after i asked some questions i had picked up off tm.Ifear there still might be issues further down the line its very sad really cos its the most retro bit of kit on sale today.

Hello Zak,

That's very interesting. In your opinion, is the temperature difference due to the internal components of the two bevel boxes or something related to installation? (The latter explanation for the Quaife box in the Morgan running hot seems improbable!)

The only thing that could make a BB run hot and noisy is friction, either in the bearings or the fit of the gears, and the fact that some are much worse than others would seem to indicate it is the way they are built and set up.

Very interesting comparison with the Slingshot BB Z, do they make their own or buy in a proprietry one?

"I have to say morgan were in total denial of any issues"

A bit like they couldn't see anything wrong with the original Aero, with the cross eyes. The rest of the world is wrong, Morgan are right.

It seems to be how they deal with problems, if you don't admit they exist, they don't.

I was told by a morgan dealer forman it all came down to cost. To get a refined BB the cogs have to matched carefully together. Apparently morgan wont pay for the costs involved with making a better BB. Sad really and short sighted. This was the opinion of a morgzn dealer mechanic. I understand the 2014 mods doesnt involve an upgraded BB, just a rubber mounting to seperate the noisey gears from the chassis. The part number for a 2014 vs a 2012 BB is the same i understand, my only hope is that improvemnts have been made without much fanfare, needs to be on something costing over £30k.

the bevelbox polaris has twice as compared to mtw cooling surface which is partly in the open air, the housing is used to Bevel fixing the rear suspension arms, I am also not convinced that he resists with the engine s & s has a blast per motor revolution.
Was why I was hesitant to buy a Dacia have no problem during the Sunday walk.

everything about Morgan suggests their directors are compensated on profits so by cheap parts and playing warranty games they line their pockets. Short run thinking and consistently ruining the brand.

I take great exception to your scurrilous comments.

Not sure that is entirely true. Morgan just replaced both the front wings on my + 4 due to a failure with the nacelle bonding on one wing. Not a cheap fix. All done with no argument. Credit where credit is due.