Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Advice needed

Hi, I am a new owner and new to the forum and am looking for some advice.
I have noticed if I stand behind the car the exhaust sound is different LH to RH, the left is more Pop Pop the right Puff Puff, is this normal?
I also have trouble starting it, engine turns and turns until eventually coughs and fires but not before 20 seconds or so even with the foot on the clutch to relieve some resistance, no throttle used and I let the fuel pump stop
Hope somebody can help reassure me or identify if it is a problem
Thanks

I know with a Garage 56 exhaust at idle you can hear the clop-clop of the exhaust valve on the RH but not really on the LH.
I don't think any start on the button! But yeah, 20 seconds does sound a bit excessive.

Cold starting is eased quite a bit by allowing the fuel pump to cycle two or three times before hitting the starter button.
Fresh spark plugs help too.
It's a bit of a big lump to turn over and if you're on the original battery you could be a bit short of cold cranking amps, lots of people have gone to better batteries to allow a bit more urgency on the part of the starter motor.
The exhausts do tend to sound different...don't have any good theories for it though!

and welcome to the forum.

Going by the sounds its making it could be a compression issue, head gasket, or valves leaking possibly

Thanks for the replies, I don't like the sound of potential gasket or valve issues but if it is normal to have differing exhaust sounds for each cylinder and starting can take a few cranks and is resolved either cycling the fuel pump a couple more times or checking the battery then I will try and put any fears to the back of my mind.
I do have a compression tester so maybe give that a quick test

Just be aware that the engine has "Easy Start Cams" that lower the cylinder compression when starting the engine, you will get an incorrect pressure reading if you are reading the gauge when cranking the engine over. The engine has to get up to running speed for the lever to release and allow full cylinder pressure.

Do you think that would cause a problem if I were checking one cylinder compared to the other or would be too unreliable to be a valid test?

Hi RIch and welcome to the world of M3W

Due to the Easystart cams it's highly unlikely this would be of much help.

The M3Ws do take a while to start up particularly when the weather is cold. Mine could take over 30 seconds to fire if the temp was below about 5 degrees C.

As Callum has said, cycle the fuel pump a couple of times and you're doing the right thing with no throttle as the engine won't fire if the throttle is depressed

Switch the dash display to voltage and it should show just over 12 volts. Then crank the engine and it should drop but still be over 9 volts. If lower then the battery may be on the way out. The original Banner batteries only tend to last a couple of years.

Remove the plug leads and check the nipple on each spark plug is tight. Consider changing to NGK Iridium plugs which help - see the Alternative Parts Guide for the spec.

If the car's not been run for a while the fuel may be going off and a top up with premium petrol may help.

If an older car check the battery connections and the earthing points

But in any case as long as it does start then get out and enjoy it

That’s great, sounds normal then
I will certainly drive and enjoy, when it warms up a bit at least

In my several years of ownership I've learned to not fret about the little things. It is not a surgical instrument but more of a sledge hammer. If it starts, success. If it makes it home under it's own power, success. Expect problems and consider every outing an adventure. I still love it.