Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 Lifeline detachable steering wheel

I have had my three wheeler for approx 6 years now and never had any problems with the steering wheel at all. I didn't even know it was detachable until today when it basically came off in my hands whilst driving down the drive. I dread to think what may have happened on the road. Anyway I have tried to put it back on and just can't. I have done all of the reading as to why it won't go on but have not managed to solve the problem. I have the wheel aligned because it will go on and engage the splines ie I can move the wheels with it but it will not click to secure the wheel ie it pulls straight back out. It is fairly clean but tomorrow it will be degreased and regreased properly. I can see nothing stopping it going on further but it just won't click securely. Has anyone else had this problem and if yes how did you solve it?

Those quick release adapters are pretty simple (and also simple to disassemble and clean/re-grease). There is only a few things that would preclude their ability to fully seat and allow the detent balls to snap into place: some sort of debris between the end of the steering shaft and the recess in the wheel (which should be obvious), badly damaged sliding splines (again should be obvious), or grit/debris in the release collar of the adaptor (would require disassembly to inspect). Of course the steering wheel needs to be correctly clocked to align the double wide spline on the shaft with the double wide groove in the adaptor, but I'm sure you have sorted.

Thank you. Yes it all looks pretty straightforward so I’ll get on it again tomorrow and will let you know.

If you have not removed and refitted the Lifeline quick release in 6 years of ownership I would guess that it is not happy through a lack of maintenance but it still shouldn't come off for no good reason. A clean and lube may be all that is required. You are fortunate that you have the Lifeline QR and not the later Travens one that is not so well manufactured and can come off unexpectedly. I would always recommend that all QR's are immobilised with a locknut on the steering wheel mounting bolts. Most people don't need the QR to get in and out and they don't have a good history. Welcome to Talk Morgan Jonathan G by the way, your first post.

I’ve made quite a few posts. Usually asking for advice as I’m no mechanic . This is a fantastic resource for owners like me.

Note that later ones, maybe after 2014 had one extra long steering wheel mounting bolt which inhibited movement of q/r collar so making wheel essentially fixed. This since otherwise it could be fitted just halfway on and so release whilst driving. Many including myself changed this to match other shorter bolts as on earlier models and so allow q/r to function. If for some inexplicable reason the wheel came off but still had the OE longer bolt fitted might this inhibit wheel being re-fitted

Forgive me if this is stating the obvious but as you've never used the QR before you might not realise that to refit the wheel you need to line up the splines then pull in the release collar behind the wheel as you push the wheel home.

Also lining up the splines can be somewhat difficult as it needs to be so precise. It can sometimes take several goes.

Mine is a 2012 model so unlikely it had that bolt fitted although I would n't know what I was looking at even if it did.

This morning I degreased the quick release setup and regreased. The steering wheel still wouldn't go in. I took the steering wheel off completely and gently tapped the quick release fitting in. It did eventually go in but I am unsure if it went in properly as I heard no click maybe because of the tapping. Anyway here is a picture of how it looks now. It feels tight but let's face it this is what could have been done before ie tapped in but not properly into position which is why it came away. Is this in far enough?

It looks to me as if your steering wheel mounting bolts are too long, preventing the release collar from being pulled full back. That release collar (the part with all the holes in it) needs to move about 8-10mm to operate properly.