Humbug
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 04:41 PM |
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SVA pass at Gillingham :))
As it says - I've just got back from Gillingham where, after 2 and a half hours of checking and paperwork I got my MAC!
The tester was Ian Bylett - really nice bloke who explained everything that he was doing, what he was looking for, etc.
Notes in no particular order:
Having set up my ETB electronic speedo at home I noticed that on the motorway I was going a bit slower than most other people but the speedo was
indicating 35mph - oops! I stopped at a shopping centre near the SVA centre to get some petrol and halved the pulses per mile. In the event, it did
the trick - an indicated 70mph was 64 real mph... I might tweak it a bit closer.
After about 2 minutes he pointed out that the front brake flexis were not tight (though not leaking) and let me get my spanners out to fix them.
The contraption used to measure the seat base in relation to the upper harness mounts (a problem on Stuart Taylors) showed that I had 1mm to spare!
That's after bolting the seats directly to the floor and replacing the seat cushion with camping mat, so there wasn't much more I could
have done. Needless to say the proper cushion went back in straight after the test 
Weights with a few tools in the boot box but no bodies were: 270kg front axle, 288kg rear, so about 560kg total. I'm not saying what the weights
were with me in...
He did a visual check for sharp edges and ran his hand over the obvious places, e.g. dash edge, cockpit sides, but didn't get his stick and ball
out (oo-er!). He did use the cone thingy to check for projections on the outside.
On the ramps I had to pump the brake pedal and he lowered the ramp and got me to look at "quite a major brake fluid leak"... a couple of
the unions were slightly loose, so he let me tighten them up.
Lights were all OK, including my rear hamburgers (I had been a bit worried about the angle). The headlamp aim was slightly out but again I was allowed
to adjust them.
Emissions, noise, brake effectiveness and balance were all within limits.
A couple of things he pointed out but did not write up were:
- cable tie holding fuel filter to the chassis - as it was only about 6" from the fuel pump which is held on with an ali bracket, and about
2" from the tank outlet I didn't think it was an issue. I will probably make up an ali strap.
- speedo sensor is mounted on the chassis rather than the diff, with the magnets on the prop flange. The needle is steady, so I am not going to change
anything for the time being.
- on full lock the front brake discs almost touch the rear of the lower wishbone - must be a ST "design feature". anyway, something to
watch.
I had done a pre-test list of things I was worried about which were not noted or failed, including:
- non-marked hose from brake fluid reservoir
- non-visibly marked braided front brake flexis
- side repeaters not E marked
- brake bias setting
A final little weird note was that he went off to do the paperwork, and came back half way through to question "Stuart Taylor" as the
Make. I think he hadn't heard of them, so I had to phone my brother to get the full name, address and phone number.
All in all, almost an enjoyable experience (well, the outcome, anyway). It made the journey back feel a lot better!
btw, I have no screen (will be fitting a Mac#1 miniscreen soon) and my goggles were definitely required.
Off to Maidstone DVLA tomorrow morning to get the registration sorted out, then I have a feeling there will be lots of errands needing to be run,
children to be taken places, etc.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
pics in my archive of various bits and pieces - I will add some new ones with the post-SVA look.
[Edited on 18/10/05 by Humbug]
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donut
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 04:45 PM |
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WELL DONE THAT MAN!!
Worth shouting about i recon!! 
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
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flak monkey
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 04:59 PM |
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Well done!! Enjoy it
David 
PS: I will point out though that the weights you got do give you your front rear weight split, but added together they dont give your total car
weight. They will add up to less than the total weight of the car. (All to do with how they weigh it). If you dont believe it, take it to a weigh
bridge ad you will see what i mean  )
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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mac1ZR
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 06:47 PM |
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Hi Humbug, well done, its a great relief, and a great feeling to get that pass certificate. Dont let the DVLA insist on an MOT certificate to register
and tax your car!! If they do ask for an MOT will you please let me know as i have been at war with them over this issue for a few weeks now, and i
have insisted that all offices over the country "sing from the same hymn sheet", and i think that i have won. I had a confirmation from Mr
BIG at DVLA that they have no right to ask for an MOT. Please let me know if they ask for one. Also if anyone else throughout the country encounters
this problem can you email me chriswoodward211@hotmail.com
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Simon
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 07:49 PM |
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Well done chap,
Just waiting for British Motor Heritage to send confirmation of age of my R V8, then I'll be off there too!!!
Just down the road from you (well 20mins!!).
Gonna take mine on a trailer though
Well done again.
Simon
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KJK
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 08:48 PM |
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sva pass
congratulations on your sva pass ,the car looks good now its finished ,much better than when i sold it to you ,hope you get to enjoy it before the
weather gets to bad?
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Humbug
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 09:45 PM |
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Thanks for the nice comments. I should have said before, that I got a lot of good information and advice from people on this forum, as well as from
the likes of Mac#1.
Thanks again... it CAN be done, so keep up the good work on your own projects
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bob
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| posted on 18/10/05 at 09:54 PM |
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Well done simon,you will have to try and meet up with Newlands corner crowd when the sun comes back.
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donut
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| posted on 19/10/05 at 07:28 AM |
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See you in 8 months then 
Andy
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/andywest1/
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Simon
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| posted on 19/10/05 at 06:54 PM |
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Got an aunt staying with me mother at the moment - she came round on Saturday and had a look at the car.- where's the roof she said?
No roof, no screen and no heating I said. Being a motorcyclist and used to riding in slightly inclement weather and assuming I do pass the SVA and get
registered, I'll see y'all at Newlands in the forthcoming ice age (according to the Scaley Mail today anyway)
ATB
Simon
But then again, I might come in a car with roof and heating
[Edited on 19/10/05 by Simon]
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