Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Steering column - Number of splines?

Hi folks, merry Christmasto you all

Please could someone kindly confirm the number of splines on a three wheeler steering column?

I'm researching a quick release steering wheel setup for my 2012 Duratec Plus 4, and I'm rather taken with the one handed operation of the three wheeler cental push release version.

If I can find one, and it fits my Plus 4 column, it would be exactly what I'm after

Thanks in advance, Dave.

The splines are part of the steering column so you would need to swap the whole column.

The adaptor itself is from Lifeline (Tremec on later cars but this is not deemed as good).

A search on motorsport building websites such as Demon Tweaks, Merlin Motorsport or Car builder solutions might find a retrofit solution.

Is this so you can quickly whip it off whilst on the go, to check that rev counter Dave? 🫨😬

Thanks.

I've looked at retro fit options, I'd be happy to fit one and may still do so, but the best one I've seen is actually the three wheeler setup.

I like its one handed central push opposition, it's also clearly something the Morgan factory did fit to a few four wheelers as proved here in this recentb Berrybrook video.



It was obviously a factory option at one point, but was it a custom piece designed to mate with the 32 spline four wheeler column, or is the three wheeler column also 32 spines thus making a three wheeler quick release hub a direct fit on my 2012 DuratecPlus4?

In the meantime, if Morgan sourced the three wheeler quick release hub from Lifeline, I'll see if they still offer it?

I would recommend buying the quick release adapter complete with splined shaft. Just google 'Lifeline quick release with splined adapter'. The splined adapter can then be welded onto your existing column, thus ensuring that you'll have a perfect (& safe) fit.

Versions of these are also available with the facility to have a horn-push in the centre of the steering wheel.
At the risk of stating the obvious, make sure you find someone who REALLY knows how to weld!

That's it Doug, I figured if I'm fast it should be just fine

But seriously, I was out in Monty yesterday and it started to rain, so sin of sins I had to put the roof up

It was then that I realised despite going from a 14" wheel down to 13", because my new wheel (which I love BTW ) is dished rather than flat like the original, it's actually more difficult to get in and out of the car.

This is purely a hood up thing so not a big issue as I typically drive Monty roof down, but it is a second negative along with the previously discussed obscured rev counter issue, BTW I'll likely solve that one simply by rotating the dial AKA C-Type Jaguar and the like

I've also spoken with Darren at Berry brook Morgan about the offset idea, apparently he and his team are not fans off the offset Motor Lita wheel so tge suggestion is the MorganaPark offset ring will prove annoying for a spirited driver such as myself, much as you quite rightly originally suggested.

Anyway, it's currently dry out, so I'm off to take Monty to 7,000rpm

Dave.

Thanks Bunny, welding not an issue

https://ibb.co/CKZDthz :

OK chaps, this is now solved

Darren from Berrybrook Morgan offered up the quick release hub he sells and it moves the wheel towards the dash by 10mm.

Not only does it allow me to remove the wheel, it actually puts my new dished wheel back where it was with the original flat one, so it's a win, win

I will need to source an alternative horn arrangement, but as the Moto Lita horn push has always been rather poor in operation, this is actually a good thing.

So perhaps more accurate to call the Berrybrook QR hub a win, win, win

Just to confirm, what Berrybrook sell is the British made QR system from Optimill.

They seem to be well liked by the Land Rover owners who this QR hub is largely targeted at, the following video shows just how short it is, even when the two halves are connected its still shorter than the original Morgan hub I'll be removing to fit the Optimill.

This is how its recovering the 10mm lost by going with a dished wheel.



I'll report back here once I've fitted it

For the 3 wheeler fraternity its more a case of increasing the offset/distance from dash rather than decreasing - hence why spacers of 20-50mm are available to space out the steering wheel from the column end.