Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Dead Battery

Dave, My tool tray has two round holders and I have a left and right euro 8 sided spinner in each. My car was fitted with the 3 eared spinners, look fantastic buy totally non practical so I changed them out for the euro's Mine are chrome plated but I wish I had bought the polished brass!

Agreed the 3.7 Roadster has a modern engine with full monitoring already via CANBUS. Since the introduction of alternators over 50 years ago, ammeters have generally not been used with them due to their much higher output and an unnecessary extra link in the electrical chain. As with most vehicles fitted with such nowadays the alternator has external regulation performed by the powertrain controle module (PCM, but read ECU).

In essence if there was a fault with the alternator you would know about it. Note also although some modern cars require the ECU's alternator charge profile be reset after fitting a new battery, your Roadster doesn't.

Thanks for spotting the typo Richard

Thanks again, all, more excellent advice. I have PM'd (I think) my email address to JohnV6.

Update is battery arrived, was much easier to install than to extract in the first place; lashings of WD40 used to good effect.
Mog started first time, and everything seems to work properly.
I left it on a CTEK trickle overnight which seems to have been successful too - thanks for the advice about starting with the headlights on - I'll do that later today.
Interesting thoughts on Alternator / Generator ~ Ammeter / Voltmeter, something to think about there.
Next job is to replace the parcel shelf which should be easy but I cannot see the requirement for those tiny screws holding the plastic velvet tray in, will consider that more when I get time later today, I'm thinking if the plywood 'lid' is secure above it, then that should hold the whole thing down. It appears I should perhaps have a spare Euro Spinner in the shelf - does anyone think that is necessary?

Interesting actually working on a motor vehicle again, I don't think I've done that since the days of changing plugs and points, cleaning distributor rotor arms etc. Neither the Audi nor the Mini has a spare tyre and despite the compressor, I'm pretty sure I'd end up calling for roadside assistance. I had a puncture in Croatia on the K1600GT once, which turned into an adventure that would require a page or two - suffice it to say that an air pump isn't much use if the punctured hole is significant, and even after repair and reinflation with a can of gunk, the ramifications can be dramatic!

I do wonder, though, when was the last time the wheels were taken off and therefore, if I should end up changing a wheel at the roadside, it might be sensible to have practised at home and made sure the Spinner is not seized on solid - any thoughts?

if you want to carry a spinner, you should be thinking of two -- as you never know which side will need to be replaced. And why would it ? Maybe it's been nicked, or if it has simply unscrewed itself you have a big problem, and will probably be chasing a wheel down the road. As for "practicing" yes for goodness sake familiarise yourself with the procedure. Jacking the car up at either end isn't too easy, especialy if you're doing it on a dark night down a muddy country lane having run over glass bottle shards.....and you'll need a good jack, perhaps some axle stands if you don't want to risk crushing some part of your anatomy, a spanner/mallet or a purpose-designed tool and a breaker bar -- all much easier to do on your driveway than in my nightmare scenario above. Also when you first attempt to remove a wheel, I'd say expect some old coagulated grease clogging the splines to make the process challenging. How's your AA/RAC membership looking ??

I carry a square of timber as a jack base. Also remember that painted wire wheels grab the spinner a lot tighter than stainless. I never got my black wires off (2012 P4) at home without heat.

I carry a square of timber as a jack base. Also remember that painted wire wheels grab the spinner a lot tighter than stainless. I never got my black wires off (2012 P4) at home without heat.

Some interesting thoughts here.
Hmmm.
I think I need to talk to the supplier and go and watch an expert.
In terms of do I need spare spinners - anyone know what the incidence is of them being pinched?
I'd guess that there's a fairly small market for resale, it's not as though they're mobile phones..
On the other hand . . .
Then there's the reality, I haven't had a non-motorcycle puncture since the eighties - which isn't good odds, but equally, it might be easier to call Morgan Recovery from the insurance policy, or even join the AA.

Ben, since removal of the tool tray, be it factory or custom, is necessary or at least helpful when checking axle, rear suspension or handbrake cable, I found I was regulary removing wood screws. I could see the time coming when oversize ones would be needed so opted for threaded inserts to allow unlimited use. These have a large course outer thread that screws into an oversize hole in the wood, sitting flush when screwed fully home with hex key. This allows my custom tool tray to be held in with stainless M4 countersunk setscrews which also sit flush. Image links below.





Regarding punctures, I have had to replace a front wheel on my Morgan which had deflated almost completely overnight. This outside a hotel I was leaving, using factory jack and an MG spinner tool I carry.

Regarding spinners being stolen - almost zero likelihood I would have thought.

Thanks Richard - I don't suppose you may have a supplier link - ah, just realised that IS a link - perfect!!