Wear out a Morgan gracefully

Preferring not to allow the Morgan to gather dust in the garage. Weather permitting, it's driven with enthusiasm at every opportunity, and with the hood down.

From acquisition day with less than 7,000 miles on the clock in 2011, it is now approaching 70,000 miles, but with little or no change to good performance or cosmetic good looks.

The bodywork and underlying mechanics are sound and the M.O.T. regularly passed with hardly a comment. The majority of maintenance is done by myself and I have only once suffered a breakdown when the radiator failed. The common weakness here was rectified later by fitting an all aluminium radiator.  All the fluids are regularly monitored and changed.

Particularly impressive is the way the ECU keeps the engine in tune. Starting is instantaneous and the engine has always run perfectly. This includes several trips abroad using all kinds of terrain and types of road. To get a flavour of these ventures, see elsewhere on this Blog.
As well as the radiator change I have renewed the rear brake shoes, replaced disk pads, replaced sliding pillars with hard chromed ones, sheathed the pillars in leather to keep out dirt/grit. Replaced a master cylinder, added spotlights, added triple horns, replaced washer fluid tube, added a clock and voltmeter, renewed the auxiliary ribbed belt (very simple to do), adjusted tracking, tied down all loose wiring, renewed perished parts of the cooling tubing. adjusted the handbrake cable, greased the spider universal joints to the transmission and steering. Oiled the leaf springs and hangers from time to time. Bled the brake system several times. Made a dashboard of wood and more recently a wood steering wheel and matching gear knob. Kept a log of all work carried out, together with mileage and dates on which this was done.

I have a decent hydraulic jack and axle stands for getting safely underneath.

In the garage, I normally drape a softcover dust sheet over the top.

A planned trip to Cadiz had to be postponed this year  (2019) because of a minor medical issue and lack of free time through childminding duties. However, there have been some lovely ventures and newly discovered venues closer to home in the south-west UK, including Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo.

Making a steering wheel.

The Morgan 4/4 already had a wood steering wheel the Mota Lita but it is really substantially aluminium alloy with only the rim made of wood and that is plywood with little intrinsic strength, having laminations that are radial and so adding no rigidity.
A recent wandering through a classic car show sparked the idea, seeing a 1914 Hupmobile with its wooden spoked wheels and a crude wooden steering wheel that has stood the test of time.
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Having already made a few wheels for toys for my young grandchildren I knew it could be done for the Morgan and set about the job with a wooden mould onto which the timber would be built up in laminations approximately 1/16th in thick. Cascamite resin glue was used for the outer rim and its a sticky job requiring glove protection for my hands.
Firstly the laminations are cut and planed to size and steam softened over boiling water in a pan. Allowed to cool and held to the mould with crocodile clamps. The tricky bit is ensuring full contact between the layers. There are probably better methods than mine such as vacuum bagging or wrapping with string to exert sufficient pressure. But this was to be a prototype and seems to have succeeded but admittedly, could be bettered.

Spokes most of which were rejects. Note the sharpened one drove through the redwood plank.

Hub and rim moulds

The outer rim is easier to fabricate than the inner hub because the clamping has more space to fix the clips. For the hub I resorted to laminating the outer layer free of the mould; after setting, the inner laminations were inserted and clamped from the inside as they naturally expanded to meet the surface of the outer layer. The ends of all the layers were feathered at both ends and tapered so that there were no but-ends or gaps. Once completed the two rings were lined up and marked out for drilling. Holes go into the outer rim from the inside approximately ⅓ in deep so as not to penetrate through to the outside. The inner hub was drilled to the full depth so that the spokes could be inserted from the centre of the circle and out through to the rim.
Spokes were cut from mature bamboo and approximately 3/32 in diameter. Each one drove through a suitably drilled hole in a piece of steel bar to ensure they were of a similar size.
Finally, the whole thing was sanded smooth and a coat of linseed oil applied. If you are not sure of the strength of bamboo to make spokes I can confirm that it is more than adequate, having driven a sharpened test spoke through a 1 ¼” plank without any harm to the wooden “nail”. 

With the steering wheel now in place, I am delighted with the result and tested with a drive out to Bristol. Further drives around Devonshire including Dartmoor and the narrow lanes have confirmed the wheel to be a success. Lighter in weight and more sensitive to the way a Morgan gives back road surface feeling. 

Also fabricated is a new gear stick knob to match the wooden dash, replacing the alloy one that was cold to the touch.

For previous attempts at wheel building, see earlier post: Balance Bike

Mog AwayTo Finch's Foundry

The National Trust operates many a wonderful heritage property but this particular venue is probably our favourite one in all of Devon. Today the sun was beating down and the grass rapidly turning a parched shade of biscuit brown.  We enjoyed a gentle picnic in the Orchard Garden that slopes towards the south.
Finches Foundry lies in the middle of South Tawton just off the A30.  From the road it does not appear to be much of any significance, blending easily with the roadside cottages, local pub and is easily overlooked. But spare a moment and look closer; behind the row is a delightful tea garden and cafe alongside an ancient Quaker burial ground beside the river Taw. Within the building the old foundry and blacksmithy houses a wealth of machinery and collected tools that were made on this site.
Out of sight from the road A382 are the waterwheels that still operate below the elevated waterway which channels thousands of gallons every day into this power house of industrial archeology.
After our stop here our next stop was at the National Bee Centre in  Okehampton and then a pleasant drive over the moor via Grimspound and Widdecombe.  Had to reverse about two hundred yards for a 30Ton lorry - Enjoyed an ice cream to cool off.

One of several such water wheels

Above head hight the raised leat flows with the crystal clear Dartmoor water

This wheel powers air blower fans that generate heat in the blacksmiths forge

The shoot carries surplus water away down the leat

The forge and the anvil 

Off road parking where the 4/4 is quite safe

The ton and a half power hammers

Ancient timber gantry with pully wheels and belts overhead

Cogs and bevel gears hum and drive belts flap and flail

The teeth on the cog wheels lift the power hammer

The leat that powers the wheels underneath

Dash Cam up to Dartmoor

A foggy grey day was left behind today as we head for the moors and a meal out. Testing the dash-cam fitted to the Morgan here showing parts of the preferred scenic sections. 

The film begins at the foot of Telegraph hill with a romp to the top where we pass the Haldon race course on the left. Descending into the Bovey Basin some misty veils linger about as we pass the exit to Chudley and the filling station. I cut the film forward to The Dart Bridge and a twisty section – The Dart Bridge is under repair, having been hit too many times by traffic squeezing between its parapets.

 We pass some pony riders at the foot of the next steep climb which the Morgan gallops up at full throttle, until a sharp right hand bend is upon us. Into Poundsgate at a snail's pace creeping through the sleepy hamlet, past the old red pillar box, over a bridge and into the next hill section. This is a lovely sharp right hand climbing bend, and a squirt up and away until a thatched cottage on the left is passed.  It is owned by English heritage and under renovation, soon to be made viewable to the public. Now rising into much clearer air the sky is an inviting quite intense blue. Halting at a roadside pull-in we pause for a walk up to a large gorse bush where this delicious bright orange Chicken Fungus is found. Said to taste of chicken, once lightly fried and brushed in oil.

Sharp Tor

Returning onto the homeward run we loop towards the village of Holn, passing across Vennford Reservoir dam.

The Dart is seen to be very low and passing us heading off the Moor are a number of disappointed canoeists, having given up any idea of a paddle down the rapids.

We reached the Fox Tor Café by midday and by 1pm the place had filled with diners. The log fire throws out plenty of warmth.
Homebound with a brief shop at Trago Mills superstore, then back to Kenton, which was still cloaked in fog.

Gorse Bush hosting a bracket fungus

Bracket Fungus

Princetown on the far left horizon

Brixham for Fish and Chips

Beautiful spring weather to make our regular run to the fish market to stock the freezer. Half the price and twice as fresh Plaice. 

At the Lifeboat Station

Traversing the chaos of Kingskerswell by pass today called for some patience and close attention to temporary detours. A herculean effort will be necessary to complete the scheme by this summer.

Beginning to show signs of neglect

Brixham never fails to provide interest for day trippers like ourselves. With tide full out the beautifully faired hulls of the several wooden trawlers under restoration, can be seen to full advantage.

Looking west towards the inner harbour in hazy light

We park up by the lifeboat station and head round the harbour to the market then retrace our steps to the chip shop for lunch. 

Preparing to put to sea

A hazy atmosphere pervades across the pale blue sky today and the sun lights up the pastel shades of Brixham.