Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Cracked and bent chassis .

so, don't brake and your chassis will live forever

genau!...wer bremst, verliert!!!

Well the old girl is being picked up by the factory tommorow.
I have had lots of calls and reassurance from the factory that they will fit a new chassis and do any other work that's outstanding.
So far I have been very impressed.

Changing oil the other day and found a crack next to the lower front wishbone mount on the far side, about 1 inch long right where the vertical tube and wishbone mount are next to each other. Matty, HJP any notes or results on your repairs? I am in need of advice at the moment. I took pictures and sent to my dealer here in the California Bay Area. Dealer said he talked to the factory and they said "weld it"--very helpful, right?! I think no one talked to the factory. Just another example of being left high and dry by my dealer AND the factory, Weld it, Shush! So 1) Check your frames Guys in the front where the wishbones attach. 2)I'm on my own so first I will drill small holes on the ends of the crack and see my certified welder.
The car is a 2012. I've fitted the triangular "upgrade". I'd checked for cracks and there were none before I fitted the upgrade. Thanks to all for any help.
Has any one had this problem and what did you do other than a new frame?

Hi hbatts , sorry to hear your problems .
It seems the Morgan upgrade you fitted isn't up to the job . I've not heard of anyone having their cracked chassis welded up , i would be wary of doing this without checking very carefully that nothing is bent . Mine was really noticibly out of true . I think previously everyone who has had a cracked chassis has had it replaced , obviously that's a lot easier for people over here . As well as Matty I believe Calum (RedThree) is now on his third chassis .
I was under the impression that Morgan had agreed to replace cracked chassis on the early cars even when the warranty has expired . Although in the letter they sent out regarding checking for cracks they stated that "During normal operating there have not been any recorded instances " !! Much as they denied the bent wishbones on early cars , I'm in danger of getting annoyed so i wont mention bump steer ...
Anyway I would contact Morgan directly sending your pictures and see what they say , it is a serious issue if the triangular bracing is not doing what it's supposed to .
Hugh

Hugh's right, I am now on my third chassis. Both of my first two cracked on the upper chassis tube just forward of the back top wishbone mount and both were replaced at the factory, the second replacement being well after the end of the warranty period. Quite a few of the earlier chassis cracked where mine did, hence the various iterations of the bracing arrangements to reduce flex and fatigue in that area and the "not a recall" over the bolt on bracing. I haven't actually heard of cracking on the lower tubes before but only the factory will know for sure if it is a one off and if it is an area that the bolt-in brace has any effect on.
If it is the factory that has suggested welding then I would suggest asking for the specification of the steel used in the tubing, it might be useful for the welder to know. Getting things straight enough shouldn't be a great problem, I'm not convinced they start out particularly straight in the first place and it's amazing how things straighten up after judicious application of brute force with a long scaffold tube, albeit backed up up with some careful measuring and a straight edge. Drilling holes to try and arrest propagation of a crack is a time honoured technique that generally has next to no effect...cracks have a habit of being much longer than you think they are and much less predictable about the direction they take than you expect, I've seen a lot of drilled holes where the crack has continued straight across the hole and others where the crack has turned a corner and gone round the hole.
Good luck with getting it sorted out, a new chassis would be the ideal outcome given the various changes since 2012 but if that isn't happening then welding should be a good fix.

Hey Calum.

Maybe you should change your moniker to Red Three Chassis

Thought had occurred to me...one mocked up "photo" as obviously such a whisky could not possibly exist
Getting the background and the out of focus effects right was the difficult bit!

hbatts, This must be very disappointing. I'm sure Morgan will get this problem fixed as they have for other owners.