MOT Tips Please

[Keith Parker]

Is there any tips in getting a Scott through it’s MOT? It has been three years in the re-building everything seems to running well now. Some one has mentioned that the Burgess silencer sounds noisy & it might not pass the test, there are no holes in it but it does appear to be a straight through with baffels round the side, will this be OK.
Also the front brake athough working smoothly with new cable, shoes in good condition (although 40 years old) does not seem to slow the bike down very quickly when used by it’s self in dry conditions. Any tips will be received with thanks.

Keith Parker
1938 Flying Squirrel 496cc

[Colin Hough]

Keith,

Go to your local VMCC meeting and ask around as there are a number of testing stations that know old bikes – avoid the sort of place that only sells brand new ‘crotch rockets’. However, recently some of the older ones have dropped out as the latest tests need fancy new equipmnet and some people have just not bothered to spend the money on it (and it does not apply to a classic bike as they are too old).

I got my MOT done locally in Bucks so if you really have trouble finding a place (which I doubt) and want to trailer, or ride, it over from Hitchen, then I can give you a name.

Don’t get too worried about the noise, that the way they were, and the brakes have never been great. You just need someone who recognises this.

Good luck,

Colin

[Roger Moss]

Our local favourite was known as “Blind Pugh”
Another “Character who I phoned to ask for an appointment asked “Will it get here?”
I said “Definitely”
He replied “Then why are you wanting to waste my time, I will put one in the post”
Both characters since recalled by the grim reaper.
Possibly he had some MOT work for them!
Trouble with MOT is that you do not have time to bed in new brake linings.
If the spokes go on to the brake drum, it often becomes oval and / or tapered
Always better to skim the drum after re spoking in this case.
Linings should to turned to be about 0.010” smaller than the drum and true to the centreline
Install brake backplate and lining assembly with wheel spindle loose
Squeese on brake fairly hard to centralise backplate.
Do up wheel spindle whilst brake is squeezed on firmly.
You may need your wife to help
Remember lots of praise and thanks!
Flowers — That’s going a bit far!
Tell us how you got on
Roger

[Stan Thomas]

Burgess silencers are “straight through” of course – but over the years an accumulation of oil “what oil – from a Scott???) causes the absorbing material to loose efficience.

Regarding the front brake – heres a tip.

Make sure the brake plate is a loose fit on the spindle, the hold the brake hard on whilst tighening the wheel nuts. This has the effect of centralising the shes in the drum,and as the Tesco Ad says “every ilttle helps”.

Stan Thomas.

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