MOT sneeky tricks...

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

My mot has been looming for a while, and its the first one ive ever took a bike for (sold my last with less than a week left on it)

So when i want with a mate while he got his tyre complete with 1 1/2" screw replaced (in the pishing rain too) i booked mine in for tuesday.. great... so off i go folloing my mate (squirming allover the place) and glance down at the rpm meter, which is dead Evil or Very Mad

frickin thing!!! so i went and got a cable ready for when i feel like puttling the radiator, and other assorted stuff off to get at it... now apparently if you have an rpm counter it must work, so if its blocked off (with say gaffa tape) then it dosent matter yes? thats the plan, will it work??

The only other one was stinkys putting hose clips on the gaitors for leaky seals... i'm putting mine on just in case! Razz

But what other sneeky/handy hints can be given for the boarderline iffy motorcycle?

Also my fogs, they are not standard, they are on brackets and only come on with the main beam, so they can be as bright and dazzleing as they want right?

Oh the other concern, the headlight can't be adjusted (wireing behine pushes the springs so you can adjust it) its a little bit high, can you put tape over the bulb to lower it a little?

That is unless something falls off or snaps in the mean time Sad

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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

I assume its a round chrome headlight with a bolt at each side.

Just push the whole assembly so it tilts down, much easier than fiddling with adjusters.

Another fork seal bodge is to pack some cotton wool under the dust caps, should soak up any small leaks.

Don't know about the rev counter thing. A retest is free, so if it fails you could just take it off. Or replace the cable anyway, assuming that is the problem - you'll need one anyway.

Sparks! · Sir Tart-a-lot Joined: 30 Aug 2003 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

You can even go so far as to tape up all the lights and switches if they are dead ropy and get a daylight only jobby done on it.

Most importantly KNOW YOUR ENEMY.

If you think something is borderline, read the manual and fix it if it is a blatant fail. Remember they are NOT allowed to remove parts of the bike to test it. If they fail it on a point you think should pass according to the book, argue the toss. Make them show you in the manual where it is a fail.

A lot of testers just make stuff up as it suits them, I had one of them fail a bike for not having a split-pin through the rear wheel spindle despite there not being a hole in it and having showed him an exploded diagram in the workshop manual with no pin. I am a lot better informed and assertive with them now when they try that sort of thing on me and would threaten to report him to the vehicle inspectorate if he persisted in his claim that it was a fail.

You usually have two weeks to bring an MOT back for a free retest after a fail (they give you a list of what to fix).

If you turn-up with a load of tools and look like you are going to repair any points they fail it on in their carpark, a lot of them will give you a certificate just to make you Feck off. Smile

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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

I wish the headlight was that simple! Sad

Its pritty much fixed position, annoyingly, but since the first time the fork seals were done (i did mine more recently) the wireing has been a pushing it out again makeing adjustment impossible... i tryed for a couple of hours getting it sorted, suck a pita, when i get time i iwll get everything moved about properly...

I dont think they charge for retests, even so i will be makeing any "adjustments" in the car park just outside (or in the workshop in all likely hood) if i need any bits there is a breakers about 3 minutes ride away.. should not be a problem as they are pritty cool there apparently (a mate has had all his bikes from there for years)

I'm not 100% sure the headlight is out, it seems high to me but... how can you tell where it should be? its a couple of meters back and then so high right?

Thing with replaceing the cable the radiator has to come off, as does the fan and other assorted fiddley crap, i'd rather do it later if i can Very Happy

somebody mentioned they have never had the mot tester even start their bike! Shocked

Anyways, thanks up to now for the help Thumbs Up

edit:

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

You need the keys or the lights won't work!

If it fails bigtime, post on the ratbike site, I can't imagine how many hundreds of years of cumulative experience at inveigling dodgy scoots through their MOT is present on that forum.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

mr.z · World Chat Champion Joined: 04 Feb 2004 Karma :

Danny · Ask Me About Stoppie School Joined: 26 Jan 2003 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

PsychoHippy · Jammy Git Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Karma :

If they don't need to start the bike to MOT it, how do they check the emissions?
Or don't they?
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I spend all my money on bikes and beer, the rest I simply waste!

Spiral · Traffic Copper Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Karma :

What about exhaust emissions tests would'nt they need the engine to pass your bike on this Question

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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

No emissions tests on bikes.

PsychoHippy · Jammy Git Joined: 02 Jul 2002 Karma :

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

I tried to get the guy at the MOT to do an emissions test on my T500 (30 year old, 500cc, 2-stroke twin) just to see what it was like. He refused on the basis that it would probably break the machine Very Happy

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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Good few years back I got a local MOT station to test the 1200 Bandit (at the time 1 year old and standard). From memory it was 3.2% CO (barely a pass for a non cat car). Cannot remember the HC figure. He wouldn't test a 2 stroke either.

All the best

Keith
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