Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Aero 8, 2012< Plus 8, SuperSports, Coupe & Aeromax Breakdown in DK

Last saturday we were in this situation in Aalborg - cracked sump!

Some points to bear in mind
1. Rescue service (Falck) quick but expensive.
2. Make sure they secure car on transporter (see other post)!
3. Everything closes in Denmark Sat 12.00 until Monday am
4. It is very difficult therefore to find somewhere to store car securely -took us 4hrs! Falck doesn't do storage.
5. Danes VERY helpful - eventually a neighbour gave us the managers mobile number who came out to open up! Another passer by took us to his garage to show off his immaculate MGB while we waited!
6. If you have a Morgan and are in trouble in Jutland - Ring Sorin Sorensen in Skanderborg +4586511552 Mobil +4523702434.

Bill, what was it that cause the sump problem, was it just a piece of metal or was it fixed which the photograph suggests.

Anyhow not good news just hope you get going soon.

It was the fixed stop for the iron gates that was 3" proud of the road.
The Aero has 4" ground clearance and as we had been through the same gate 2yrs ago I thought nothing of it.

The problem was the road had subsided each side so the effective height was >4" hence the damage.
I am about to enter correspondence with Aalborg commune!
PS Does anyone know whether there is a regulation for the minimum ground clearance for new cars?

Well at least Frank won't feel so lonely now......
Remember that the Roadster clearance is 3.25inches.

Obviously gate stops are a menace to watch out for.

A quick Google tells me:

There is no minimum ground clearance for road vehicles (laden or unladen). This is not included in either The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 or the more recent EC Car Masses and Dimensions Directive EC 95/48.

There is a maximum height specified for speed humps. The approach angle should not be more than 1:8 and the maximum height is now 75 mm, although the limit was previously 100 mm and some old ramps still exist. There is a tolerance that needs to be considered of +/- 12.5 mm, therefore the minimum laden ground clearance of any vehicle is required to be 120 mm.

75mm is near enough 3 inches.
100mm is near enough 4 inches.
No wonder we're in trouble.......

While many race car classes have minimum ground clearance regulations, I am not aware of a European regulation for minimum ground clearance for road cars. On my 2008 +4 I changed tires from 60 profile to a 65 profile to gain 10 mm ground clearance.

Harald

120mm?
One of the Bucks villages we passed thorugh on Monday had the highest speed humps I've ever seen. At each end of the village, where there was also a width restriction. I know the +4 would not have got over them, fortunately no problem getting one track on the hump in the 4/4.
I could see David in my mirror, in his Roadster 100, being extremely careful!

Cheers,

Thanks for the comments - when I get a reply from Aalborg Kommune I will share it - translated of course!

Good News - Aero back today
Bad News - Lots of correspondence with insurers

Bill, sorry to hear about your trials and tribulations relating to the sump.

As per my previous post, mine was damaged and replaced during my most recent service. Mark suggested that gate stops (as per Frank's incident) are the most common offenders. While my car wasn't leaking, it was dented and only a matter of time; he said they can often hammer the dent out but in this case it was too close to the plug and therefore it would start leaking if they tried to straighten it. So it was new sump cover time for me also.

On the subject of UK sleeping policeman, I was under the impression that they must be 4" high or lower. If you find any that are higher you can report the local authority. All hearsay of course, but might be worth checking.