Failed MOT, need advice UPDATE

[fuzz]

The NSR failed the MOT on three things: Headstock bearings, front forks hydraulicing and front pads worn out.

Headstock bearings fair enough. Front forks, too much oil How does that happen? It passed the last MOT and I certainly haven't added any more oil to it! Front brake pads were changed about 1000 miles ago, so how can they have almost worn out completely?

They quoted me ~£160 to do the lot. I'm a bit baffled as to why the latter two need attention. Suggestions?
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Bikes: '99 NSR125R, '00 SV650S, K1 GSX-R600, '97 CB500, K3 SV1000S, '16 VFR800

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

Doesn't sound right to me.

Have you checked the pads? And given the front forks a push or two/checked for leaks?

I'm always dubious of garages, especially when they quote me for something straight up. (not that I would know, as my bike's never been a garage, I hate them... but I can imagine.)

*ED* is there even a symptom for too much oil in the forks, apart from maybe oil leaking out?

[fuzz]

I have checked the pads, they are worn down. Can't figure out why though. I changed them about 1000 miles ago along with the rear. The rear is fine and I use that quite frequently too. There are no leaks coming from the forks. What do they mean by 'hydraulicing'?
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Bikes: '99 NSR125R, '00 SV650S, K1 GSX-R600, '97 CB500, K3 SV1000S, '16 VFR800

[alains]

about your front pads . this thing happens when the disk is dammaged or has unleved surface . i suggest you change the disk with the pads . about your forks , how long since the oil was changed . if you pass your finger along the tube , is your finger greasy ? if yes that's a sign of leak ! the problem is that changing the seals is quite expensive (require at least 1H1/2 work)
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working

[Scotsman37]

My friend's bike a got a fail on the front forks last year saying that there wasn't enough dampening effect, and promptly took it back to the original mechanic that replaced the seals & bushels along with new fork oil. The mechanic bounced the front several times and he proved to us there was no sign of poor dampening. His suggestion take it to another MOT and mention nothing about the failed MOT, and so he didn't and it passed with flying colours!

The moral of the story is some garages trump up fails to get more business and so try another place for an MOT and see if they find the so called fault.


In regards to brake pads it could be due to not cleaning the calipers & pistons thoroughly enough with brake cleaner & toothbrush (or something similar) and coating the back of the pads with copper grease, plus the caliper's sliding pin with copper grease too. Your calipers are seizing on and so the pads are being worned down much faster !

[alains]

we have the same problem over here , except that the mot are independant from the garages (they are not allowed to repair anything) but the problem is about the qualification of the man who do the job .
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working

[Scotsman37]

[fuzz]

[Scotsman37]

You could try a mechanic, if you want, to test the fork's oil level and that way you'll know if it's right/wrong?

[stinkwheel]

I have had them fail an older bike before through ignorance on the testers behalf. They failed a bike for having leaky fork seals when it had no oil in the forks, working as it did with dry, grease damped springs. There were no oil seals to leak. He took quite a bit of persuading though.
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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.

[BikerBen]

Fuzz, before you go and change your pads check your front disc. You said you changed them 1000 miles ago and that they are already worn down. This could be due to (as someone already mentioned) scratches or an unsmooth disc surface causing the pads to wear down quicker.

I recently had to change my rear disc as I didn't realise my pad was worn down. Metal on metal for a while and the disc needs changing. Worth having a look otherwise you will be changing your pads more than you should have to.
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[Scotsman37]

[alains]

dear scotsman , they are very expensive !!
fuzz , i suggest you phone tim at https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk (i saw a rear disk at £45)
but i saw that on ebay (worldwide) coming from germany
https://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=32112&item=7968623273&rd=1
and it's new !!!
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working

[stinkwheel]

Another thing that can cause rapid disc wear is if the disc lands up sitting at a funny angle to the wheel.

It is quite common for a lot of corrosion to build up between a cast wheel and the disc causing it to be twisted away from level.

If you remove the disc, you may well find there is a load of white powdery corrosion where the disc fits onto the wheel, scrape this off with an old screwdriver and apply copper grease before fitting the disc.
____________________
“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.

[fuzz]

I took the bike to another dealer for an MOT. They don't repair Honda's, so I was pretty sure I would get an honest test.

I changed the pads last week, and so there was no fail in this respect.

They did not find any problem with the forks. They said that there was alot of oil in them, but it was nothing to fail a test on. They did however find another fault. With the wheel. The rim has become damaged and needs replacing. Which is more costly to repair than the forks would have been.

A Honda dealer/servicer quoted around £300 for the wheel, head bearings and fitting. I think I'd rather pay more knowing the faults are real, rather than paying for something that has no problem.
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Bikes: '99 NSR125R, '00 SV650S, K1 GSX-R600, '97 CB500, K3 SV1000S, '16 VFR800

[alains]

go on ebay , they have complete wheels
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the worst day fishing is better than the best day working