MoT questions, SOB 'lectrics.

Hey, chaps. Long time no post.

I'm getting my two SOBs (1980 Can Am Bombardier, 1976 Suzuki TS185)
ready for participation in this year's Ryedale Rally, and there are a
couple of things I'm unsure about before I take them in for MoT.

1) Can a bike fail for indicators flashing too quickly? The
indicators on the TS are flashing double time, though all the bulbs
are working and match (6V, 8W.) What else might make them flash
double time? It came with an MoT, and I've not changed the flasher or
the bulbs since.

2) Can a bike fail for having no front brake switch? Again, the TS
appears to have no front brake switch, though it was purchased a few
years back with an MoT, and I've certainly not removed the brake
switch. It's not like there even a lead lying around that looks like
it should connect to the switch. I know this might sound like a very
stupid question, but my old VW keeps passing MoT with a broken reverse
light because reverse lights weren't mandatory when the vehicle was
approved, so you never know. The bike has a rear brake switch and it
works just fine.

3) Neither the Can Am nor the Suzuki can flash the indicators with any
sort of regularity at tickover. They flash fine (excepting the period
of the Suzuki's flash as mentioned above) on the move. Also, you have
to have a feel for the indicator switch, they're both a bit worn. Are
either of these likely to be a problem?

Many thanks for any wisdom wafted my way,

Chris.

 

In theory, yes, a bike can fail for this. I think the wattage may be
slightly low on these bulbs. Try a higher wattage. Otherwise - well, see
if the MoT man is sympathetic. Many are when it's a ShiteOldBike they're
testing.

The TS185 of that era didn't have a front brake light switch fitted
anyway. rear only. No, not a fail.

Quite a few Suzukis of that era didn't have a front brake light switch,
including many disc-braked models.

Nope.

 

My last MoT man was sympathetic. Or deaf. He certainly never pulled
the RVF up on that ART can. Only problem is I've just moved into the
sticks between Beverley and Driffield.

Anyone want to recommend an MoT place in my area?

I suppose the weather's getting good enough that the ride back to york
at 50mph might actually be fun.

Worry is, though, that the bike'll be scrutineered before entry into
the Novelty Trail class at this rally. The nice man at the Yorkshire
Enduro Club said not to worry about them being SOBs, as long as they
pass an MoT they'll let us ride them. So we've got two MoTs to pass,
one of them probably not so sympathetic.

I'll get me some higher wattage bulbs. About the 15W mark? See how we
go with them.

Oh, that's the best news I've had all day.

Cheers, TOG.

 

look here
http://www.stephen.tomkins2.btinternet.co.uk/

and here
http://www.johnparkermotorcycles.co.uk/wewbremp/webpages/wmot.htm

 

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosa/motorcycleowners/mottesting/motorcyclecomponentstested.htm

dellboy

 

Blimey! Not seen you for a long while!

 

No.

"Stop lamps may operate in conjunction with either the front or the rear
brake, or both. On machines first used on or after 1 April 1986, the stop
lamps must operate by the application of each system."

http://www.motuk.co.uk/mcmanual_130.htm

HTH

 

Been busy! Gained a wife, then a son, exchanged the house and lost a thumb.

Heh.

I trust you're well? I've still got that RVF. In fact it was she who
took my thumb, by way of my own gross stupidity.

 

Thanks for the info, guys.

A quick aside: does anyone know if I can buy, and where I can buy
speedo cable inners for the above bikes? Both of them have broken the
actual cable, and they appear to be exactly the same cable (I guess
this is something I should test before buying anything on the strength
of it.) I tried a local Suzuki dealer who rapidly wandered off into
chocolate teapot territory, and then returned with an entire cable that
would "probably fit." I don't need the outer, just the actual cable: a
big long spring pressed square at one end and finished at the other end
with a cylinder with a square notch cut into it.

Cheers,

Chris.

 

Try

http://www.bitzforbikes.co.uk/index.html

I've bought bits of them before and they seem OK.

 

Try Venhill, they do custom made. Maybe able to assist you.
http://www.venhill.co.uk/

 

It was somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the

Speedy Cables - google for the web addy.

--

Dave

GS 850 x2 / SE 6a
SbS#6 DIAABTCOD#16 APOSTLE#6 FUB#3
FUB KotL OSOS#12? UKRMMA#19 COSOC#10

 

Believe it or not, I'm almost certain I have some. In a big box of
ShiteOldSuzuki cables, NOS, some pattern, some genuine.

But Gawd knows how long it'd take to fish them out....

 

http://www.sparesdirect.co.uk/home.htm

Worth a try.

Or you could have the TS185 one, if it's still around. I'll have a
rummage. Can you wait?
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/KH500A8/TS250C
|_\_____/_| ..63642../..15196.../..3157./.19406
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 YTC#4 PM#5
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 two#11 WG*
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17
'^' RBR-Visited:11 Pts: 190 Miles: 580

 

The message <c5go7a$4vs$>

Well done, Chris! Well, on three out of four at any rate! <G>

 

As ever, I'm impatient to get something done, but happy to wait for the
result. I ordered a NOS cable for a tenner yesterday, but they only
had the one in stock, and I wasn't going to pay a tenner for the inner
and outer just in case the inner was also a match for the Can Am.

So technically I might still need a cable inner -- I'll pop the new
cable inner onto the Can Am to see if it measures up.

 

Haud yer wheesht!