Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Heavy steering wheel + spacer = shake

Hey all,

Just received a beautiful superspoke steering wheel. Banjo style but I had the, brush rather than polish the individual spokes, and also use a brushed center. Beautifully matches the car. Also had them make me a spacer to push the steering wheel back 1", which increases leg room considerably.

Now the issue: the steering wheel is dramatically heavier than the factory one. Then, the spacer adds an additional lever arm which decreases the natural frequency of the up-down vibration of the wheel. So now, when the RPM goes through about 1500RPM or so, it sets off a quite visible shaking up and down of the steering wheel.

Wondering if any of you have seen something similar, and how you dealt with it. Reinforcing the steering column somehow is one option. Am also going to try it without the spacer but I need the leg room. The only other alternative is to start to machine / drill out some material to try and lighten the whole thing up. A lot of it is in the center and should be hidden by the face plate.

You need to be keeping to a minimum of 2,300rpm - the problem will be the engine lugging rather than an issue with the steering.

At 1,500 rpm you'll also be getting compensator and driveline vibration.

2300rpm, that's the same with mine to run smooth.
But I get used to the shaking bag and find 2000rpm acceptable now
when trying to go very slow in first gear. No chance to get below that

Both S&S and Morgan recommend to keep this puppy above 2700 at minimum. Having talked with many bikers they all tell you to keep it from 3,000 to 4,500 rpm for running under load. Anything over will start to get a bit ragged and it tops out at around 5,000 rpm anyway. Within that range it becomes very smooth. The steering issue will disappear except at idle. Everything shakes at idle.

Keeping it in the zone eliminates many problems with the drive train. The cush block will thank you and your car will thank you. You may find that you don't have to spend too much time tightening things down periodically. You will also save money as, I believe, most cush block failures and noise complaints come from lugging this engine.

Yeah, I definitely keep it in this power band anytime I'm cruising or the engine is under load. I never load up the engine at 1500.

I didn't explain it very well--this is the steering wheel resonating and shaking up and down (as in 1/2" up and down) ANYTIME the RPM cross over 1500. As in, blip the throttle at a stoplight, steering wheel goes crazy. Take off and accelerating, as you go through this RPM, again steering wheel goes crazy. Once I'm up and cruising in the powerband, 2500-3000, no problems at all.

It's not a big deal but I worry about the fatigue on the steering column, and it just looks really goofy to the passenger (it's quite visible).

I'd take a good look at the mount points for the steering shaft.

This ain't right!

+1
I can't imagine that a presumably solid 25mm spacer could be flexible enough to allow any noticeable amount of movement or a wheel being heavy enough to do the same. I would have my suspicions about the top steering column support which is behind the dash but can't think why it would have been loosened just to fit a spacer.
Could be simpler; is the quick release boss properly seated onto the column? They can occasionally appear to be on properly but haven't fully engaged - always worth pushing the wheel on firmly and giving it a bit of a pull back towards yourself to make sure.

Although I never had to look, there may be a felt or plastic top bush pressed into the top of the out column, if this is broken or missing, it may be the cause of your vibration.

Yep, quick release fully engaged. Doesn't do it with old steering wheel. Does with new. The spacer is not a factor for its mass but the extra inch it puts the mass away from where the steering column bolts down.

Will go through all the mounting points for the steering column; that's a good idea.

Is the quick release boss the same, as in identical? perhaps swapping that out would do the trick. Should be a straight bolt off bolt on.