Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Steering Column Spline Count

You will likely find the nominal diameter is closer to 12 inches Dave although my 13 inch Mk3 thick rim 9 rivet is not dished. Doesn't look too small though and with EPAS steering, just makes it quicker. It was a cheer up present to myself following COVID lockdown having given up on the Steve Simmons q/r one I'd been waiting on for years.



TBH I would have jumped at the chance of a dished one when I ordered mine from MotoLita in 2020 but they were only available for 14 inch upwards at the time. Did manage a black B71J boss option though.

That looks great Richard

I must admit I bought my thick rim Moto Lita wheel on a bit of a whim, it came up on eBay offered by a seller called 'steeringwheelsteve' of all things, he had a Malvern address so make of that what you will? I knew the smaller diameter would give Monty even more direct steering, but I hadn't considered the ergonomic benefits the thick rim would give, as soon as I'd fitted it I fell in love and immediately knew it was a keeper.

It was such an impulse purchase I didn't even consider the impact of moving from a flat to a dished wheel, while the steering feel was greatly enhanced, being dished it did reduce the gap I post my posterior though (seat bolster to wheel rim) when climbing in Monty with the roof up. Roof off and the entry method changes to the stand in and slide down technique so the dished wheel ceases to be an issue, however, the stalks are now a bit further from the rim than I'd like.

TBH, at the £200 I paid for the wheel in 'as new' condition, and given the considerable benefits, I've been able to overlook it's very minor de-merits. Admittedly, I have now spent another £200 on a shorter hub to make the setup perfect, and I guess for the same money I could have just bought a brand new flat thick rim wheel, but it wouldn't have the quick release feature I'll end up with.

Of course all this is assuming the Optimill 48 spline QR hub fits and works out as predicted, so fingers crossed

I suffer from cramp in my hands so swopped my woodrim to this.

Loving the steering wheel mounted stopwatch Keith

I did the same on Monty, but I had to remove it as I found it interfered with my hands when involved in vigorous opposite lock wheel twirling

Not on the road.... obviously

Your SuperSport like transmission tunnel mounted timing kit also looks the shizzle, where did you get the set from?

Adriatica is the make, one is a clock the other clock/ stopwatch. Quartz a real bugger to change the batteries.

Difficult to get my car to step out with LSD and Avon CRZZ6 tyres. 143 BHP at the rear wheels.

Dave, When I bought my boss I had the same issues ie being told conflicting info re the spline count. In the end I bought from Uncle Melvyn as he knew exactly what my car needed .... 2010 registered plus 4. I can't remember all these years later but there was something controversial about it in that it's the later classics that have the different spline count. Just give them a call and I'm sure they will confirm what is what!

Cheres Sewen, it's just arrived so I'm kind of commited now, I guess I've got a 50% chance of spline count success

What I have discovered is, to ensure the pull release knobs sit symetrically behind the wheel's horizontal spokes, the three locating pins on the column end of the Optimill hub will need to be set with respect given to the steering wheel holes, this because the 3 locating pins form a triangle so there are three ways it can be clocked.

The removable element of the hub screwed to the wheel and the fixed part of the hub that remains bolted to the steering column must connect in the one position that leaves the release knobs in the horizontal plane, and obviously all this is also set with the road wheels in the perfect straight ahead position. Here's a first dry fit off the car using my old 14" thin rim and flat Moto Lita wheel, and yes, initially I did offer it up back to front



In the video you can see how getting the three locating pins in the wrong orientation will leave the steering wheel bolt holes missaligned.

As suggested earlier in this thread, my thick rim wheel is not 13", it's actually smaller at 12.75".



It also has a dish depth of 1", this means the stalks are 1" further away from the rim than with my flat rim wheel and reduces the roof up entry gap to post my posterior through from 15.5" to 14.5", for those broad of beam like myself the reduced the gap between the steering wheel rim and the outer seat bolster can best be described as...... snug!

Until full removal I am unable to give you a direct depth comparison between my current Moto Lita B71 NB hub and the Optimill ORP37-48 that is set to replace it, but a quick comparison certainly suggests the quick release hub is at least 1" shorter. So, in theory my new quick release steering wheel hub should as a minimum return the rim to stalk clearance back to what it was, and open up the rim to seat bolster gap by the same amount too.

In theory, I should end up with all the benefits of the smaller diameter thick rim wheel, while resetting the other parameters back to where they were when I ran Monty's original 14" flat wheel. All this with the added benefit of being able to remove the wheel entirely, as such, I am ergonomically preparing Monty for the results of his owner's incurable addiction to doughnuts, and his advancing years!

I had an optimill quick release boss on my last Defender with a mtolita wheel and to be honest I didn't find any difficulty in lining things up it just went straight on. I marked the top centre of the shaft in respect of the original steering wheel position and fitted the column element square to that, Think they make them to fit square to original fitment wheel. I fitted it because Defenders were getting nicked all over the place. Just in case you are interested I also bought the locking boss cover which when fitted spins freely preventing mole grips being used to steer the car enough to get it on a trailer! Also an optimill item Called a security cover.

Cheers, I'll consider the spiny thing

However, it's not a priority right now as the theft aspect wasn't my primary objective for installing a quick release steering wheel.

As for the alignment, there are actually two possible ways it can all go together, not three.

https://youtube.com/shorts/QdJMtR5GRO0?si=ZaA3Q6dy3q5yUsgU

As the above video clearly demonstrates, the earlier issue was merely a function of my inability to engage my brain



And the following video shows the Optimill QR hub in action, works great

https://youtube.com/shorts/Az_aFEwaQgE?si=Td6pCWQ_-B6kE84-

I left the black hard anodised cover off for the test, ultimately the plan is to get it laser engraved with the Mogan wings, I'll then rub some antique bronze guilding wax into the engraved lines to give a nice vintage finish and follow Monty's brass accessories theme.