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From: Mike Rooth <M.J.Rooth@lut.ac.uk>
Subject: MOT's and the Road Rolls On.
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 94 11:18:47 BST

Steve's descrription of the "rolling road" as used in the MOT
test,set me to thinking that perhaps it may be of passing interest
to those who dont have to suffer this indignity,to know what is
involved.I,for one,would certainly be interested to know what
arrangements other countries have in place.
First,MOT.Stands for Ministry Of Transport.The test is an annual one
to be undertaken by a suitably licenced "testing station",usually a
private garage,or in at least one case locally,a municipally run affair.
The problems with certain private operators are obvious,ie they have a
vested interest in failing the vehicle so that they can charge much lolly
for putting right that which is not wrong in the first place.The tester
*must* have passed the Ministry training course,otherwise he cannot 
operate,and he *must* have the relevant equipment(such as the rolling
road mentioned).He is also subject to inspection by Ministry representatives.
The test currently involves(and if I forget an item or two,I'm sure there
are people who will fill in the list)
Chassis(or equivalent on monocoque vehicles)must be free of holes and
structurally sound.Repairs,if done,must be welds,pop rivetting,brazing,
glued on patches are not acceptable.
Bodywork must be free of defects dangerous to bystanders.Like if you have
a jagged piece of metal hanging off somewhere,you're out.This is one of
the dodgy ones because its a matter of opinion.
Brake lines must have no rust,and flexibles must be in good nick,with
no signs of bulges or imminent failure.Yah Boo!mine are copper:-)
Steering must not have excessive play at the steering wheel,currently
1-2" free play,I beleive,for the Land Rover,there must be *no* give
in any of the ball joints,steering swivels,or wheel bearings.This   
latter has been a constant source of argument with me over the years,
since some of these dumbo's would like wheel bearings pre-loaded(true!)
instead of the ten thou end flaot the manual says is neccessary.
Shockers must be operating correctly.Land Rover's exempt here,since the
method of testing shockers is to bounce up and down on the car.Well,
you *can* jump on the Rover's bumper if you like,but it wont move far!
All shocker and spring bushes to be in good condition,and with no play.
Axles U-bolts to be tight.Steering box and steering relay checked for
tight attachment to the vehicle.
No fuel leaks permitted,sealing washers on tank filler cap to be intact.
No holes in exhaust system.
All lights to work as advertised *and to be of equal intensity side to
side*.This is a new one someone dreamed up last year during a moment
of boredom.Headlamps checked for direction and beam height,both full
and dipped beam.ANY EXTRA LIGHTS YOI HAVE MUST WORK.So if you are
halfway through installing a load light or foglamp,dont take it for
the MOT until you have finished,or they'll fail it.I hadf one on that
wasnt connected,and wouldnt have worked even if it *had* been,so I
took it off,and binned it.
Its worth mentioning here that the tester isnt allowed to take a spanner to
the vehicle,all testing is done by pushing and pulling and tapping wiv a
rubber 'ammer.
Horn must work.Wipers/washers ditto,wiper blades to"sweep the full area".
Seat belts to be present and correct and unfrayed.All mirrors to be clear
and uncracked.Windshield to have no cracks in line of driver's vision
larger than a pound coin (7/8" dia).Tyres to have legal tread depth over
2/3 of the tyre.This includes the spare if you,re daft enough to leave it
in or on the car.But if it aint there,they cant test it,there is as yet
no law that forces you to carry a spare.In fact,I'm not *too* sure that
if the spare has a cover over it,that they are permitted to remove the
cover.
Brakes are tested on the rollers,Land Rover handbrake excepted,since it
isnt a service brake,only a parking brake.It has to work,but the way my
people do it is to *just* roll the Rover forward and apply the handbrake.
One guy admitted to me he got clever with one Land Rover and tried to
test the handbrake on the rollers.The owner had just refurbished this item
so the Rover leaped off the rollers and headed for the wall.The tester had
a nasty lump on his head!I told him he was damned lucky he wasnt being
billed for a new half shaft,or worse.
Exhausts are checked for emission levels.With petrol engines they are looking
at CO emissions,but *no-one* knows what the diesel test is after.They are just
told that the print out had to read less than a certain figure.As one guy said
to me,"we wouldnt even know if the machine had gone wrong".Super.
Older petrol engines are exempt from this(I forgrt *how* old) *all* diesels
are checked,but '79 and previous it is a visual check only.(Breath sigh of
relief).Actually,I jacked the hand throttle up to fast tickover,its *much*
less smoky at speed.
Most testing rules are not retrospective.For instance pre-1965,I think it
is,seat belts are not mandatory,nor am I obliged to fit hazard flashers,
but I *did* recently hear of a station that made a guy fit a number plate
illumination lamp,because he didnt like the clear glass insert in the rear
lamp of the 11A in question.I'm pretty certain he was outside his brief,and
could have had a blck mark against him if the owner had complained.Personally,
I *would* have complained.
When all this is over,and you've passed,hopefully,you pay your 25 quid and
get a piece of paper which has the gall to state that this does *not* offer
any guarantee as to the roadworthiness of the vehicle!Without this bit of
paper you cant Road Tax the vehicle.The bit of paper you get in return for
your Road Tax money has to be the most expensive piece of paper,money/surface
area,in the world.Its a three inch(or so)disc and costs 130 quid per annum.
If you *dont* pass,you get a list of required repairs,and if you present the
vehicle at the same place within 14 working day,the retest is free,and the
only itms examined are those on which it failed.
And there you go,folks.We hate the thing with a passion,mainly because we
are maintaining a piece of machinery to a standard,but they wont tell us what the stanard is beforehand.Like,as far as I know,one cannot buy a test schedule.
Its secret.Gawd!
Cheers
Mike Rooth

------------------------------

Subject: MOT
From: ludovico.magnocavallo@galactica.it (Ludovico Magnocavallo)
Date: Mon,  4 Jul 94 13:12:00 +0100

Thanks god my LR doesn't live in the UK......
What's an MOT like in Italy?
First of all, until last year, a new vehicle had to pass its first MOT
after 10 years, and then evry 5 years. Now, Italy has adhered to EC
regulations, and an MOT is required every 2 years.
Basically, an italian MOT consists of waiting a lot of hours in a long
queue waiting for your turn, not much more.... :)))
They just check the chassis numbers, lights, tyres, test the brakes on
the rollers and make sure there are no major bodywork or glass damages.
Nothing more. Very easy.
But you could always pay something like 300.000 italian Lira (120
pounds, more or less), and pass your MOT with the help of a friendly
tester....
There are no private MOT testers, it's a department of the Italian
Ministry of Transports that runs everything, and I think this explains
everything.
I hope that this does not upset too much all you LR owners living in
civilized countries...:)
Ludovico
ludovico.magnocavallo@galactica.it
P.S.-While we could be lucky with our MOTs, Road Taxes in Italy are
higher than everywhere else in the world, I think. If I had the back
seats in my 88, I should pay something like 700 pounds a year. Vehicle
age and market value don't count as parameters for your Road Tax. They
look at a combination of engine size/horsepowers/torque, and add lots of
money for diesel engines and 4wd. Without the back seats, and with minor
modifications, my vehicle is classified as a commercial light truck, and
I can pay something like 50 pounds a year (phew.....). That's what most
4x4 owners do.....

------------------------------

From: azw@aber.ac.uk (Andy Woodward)
Subject: Re: 2 wheel rolling road?
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 1994 15:04:07 UNDEFINED

>Really, the rolling road is a set of rollers mounted in the floor that are
>used to measure brake efectiveness on vehicles for the MOT. (a similar set
	 [ truncated by lro-digester (was 13 lines)]
>ya right off the rollers and into the Jag parked in front of them....OOOOOO!
>(this is thought to be bad manners....)

Hate to disagree (actually, I just LOVE being disagreeable...), but no LR I've 
ever heard of has viscous diffs. (They SHOULD have em on front and rear axles, 
but that's another thread....) Damned good flamebait tho............

The reason is that the Rangeys, 90s and 110s have a central differential for 
their full time 4wd. If only one axle is turned, it knackers the central diff 
pretty damned quick since it's only designed to deal with small differential 
speeds.

Similarly if you tow one of these with either end off teh ground, you MUST 
disconnect teh propshaft to the trailed axle (and preferably lock the 
central diff too just to be anally retentive) or the diff will be toast.

(Sorry for taking this seriously, but someone might actually not know.)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
        Just another roadkill on the Information Superhighway
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

------------------------------

From: azw@aber.ac.uk (Andy Woodward)
Subject: Re: Low Ratio Gearbox
Date: Mon, 4 Jul 1994 15:23:09 UNDEFINED

>I've just bought an 88" series 2 from my dad. It was built in 1971 and he 
>bought it about 8 years ago. The people he bought it from told him that it 
	 [ truncated by lro-digester (was 6 lines)]
>such a gearbox in any Land Rover literature and I've started to wonder 
>whether there's something amiss.

>One of my suspicions is that the transfer box might be stuck in low ratio. 

>So I've two questions really:

>        1) Has anyone heard of a low ration gearbox for field work?

The visibility from Landrovers, especially hardtop LWB vans, is so terrible 
that Landrover include an entire special gearbox of 'parking ratios' to allow 
owners to manouever slowly into tight parking spaces in greasy-spoons without 
accidentally demolishing expensive 18 wheelers.

You really wouldnt want to be stuck in parking ratio unless you lived in 
London, in which case, you'd not notice anyway.

Hope this is helpful

Andy

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
        Just another roadkill on the Information Superhighway
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

------------------------------

Subject: fuel warning light
From: dd@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca (Dale Desprey)
Date: Mon, 04 Jul 94 08:50:21 -0500

Since we are talking about diesels, my favorite subject, how long before, 
once the blue low fuel light goes full on, before you run out of fuel?  
Last night I must have been close because the guage was below E.  I did 
make it home.  What is it with Land Rover fuel gauges that they only read 
half full when full, and decrease exponentially when it finally does 
decide to move.  What does the regulator do? You know, the bi-metalic 
strip with the contact on the end.  Is there a modern replacement?

Now an unrelated observation.  When the weather is cooler, there is a 
marked increase in top speed.  I was moving at 60mph last night coming 
home.  On the way out, I was luchy if I could do 50.  Btw, my speedo is 
out from going to 16 inch tyres.

I would be curious to know why it is that people don't supercharge 
diesels, with all that torque.  I feel that turbos wear with all that 
exhaust heat.

Dale Desprey

--
Dale Desprey, dd@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca
FourFold Symmetry, Nepean, Ontario, Canada

------------------------------

Subject: Re: 2 wheel rolling road? 
Date: Mon, 04 Jul 1994 14:13:32 -0700
From: Mike Fredette <mfredett@ichips.intel.com>

>>anyway, the"problem"with the late model
>>range rovers is in the viscous coupling for the front and rear
	 [ truncated by lro-digester (was 10 lines)]
>>ya right off the rollers and into the Jag parked in front of them....OOOOOO!
>>(this is thought to be bad manners....)

>Hate to disagree (actually, I just LOVE being disagreeable...), but no LR I've 
>ever heard of has viscous diffs. (They SHOULD have em on front and rear axles, 
>but that's another thread....) Damned good flamebait tho............

>The reason is that the Rangeys, 90s and 110s have a central differential for 
>their full time 4wd. If only one axle is turned, it knackers the central diff 
>pretty damned quick since it's only designed to deal with small differential 
>speeds.

Hate to disagree with your disagreement, but I disagree. All North American spec
Range Rovers since 1989, and I assume now the Discoveries also, have a viscous
coupling in the center diff for the full time 4wd function. Not to be confused with
locking front and rear diffs, you are correct, Land Rover has never offered them.
ARB from those wonderful folks down under has a great locking diff for the front or 
rear of Landies and Rangies. These are not viscous couplings like the center diff
of the RR, but a compressed air operated locking diff that essentially gives you
a single solid axle, front or rear depending on where it was installed, providing 
100% of the available torque to the wheels, even if one is not in contact with 
terra firma.
							rgds
							Mike Fredette
							72 Ser lll 88
							89 Range Rover
							94 Discovery
							(yes, totally out
							 of control)
							Portland, Oregon

------------------------------

From: Craig Murray <craigp@ocs.cpsg.com.au>
Subject: Re: 2 wheel rolling road? 
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 94 9:07:11 EST

> Hate to disagree with your disagreement, but I disagree. All North American spec
> Range Rovers since 1989, and I assume now the Discoveries also, have a viscous
	 [ truncated by lro-digester (was 20 lines)]
>                                                        of control)
>                                                       Portland, Oregon

I would hate to disagree with you on the ARB diff lock, they are only
likely to blow something up when you need them, If you were going to get
a diff lock, a Maxidrive or a Macnamara diff lock would be better, ARB
just fit the locking mechanism to the standard rover diff, and don't even
strengthn the axles, so if you have to use it,some thing will break.
With the other two, they give you strengthened axles, and a four pinoin diff
carrier, and work of vacuum instead of compressed air, the early macnamara
diff locks worked by losening a nut on a modified  drive flange, which let the
long axle slip into the thing that holds the spider gears (the name eludes me)
thus locking the diff, There are plenty of Land Rovers around Australia with
this sort of diff lock, mine included, with are much stronger than an ARB
diff lock.  I mean if it is easy to blow up a diff or a half shaft with out
a diff lock, imagine the amount of half shafts and diff centres you would
go through if you put a diff lock on a standard Rover diff.

Just my two cents worth.

==============================================================================
Craig Murray                                            1955 Series 1 86"
mail: craigp@ocs.cpsg.com.au                            2.25 desiel (Soon!)

------------------------------

Date:         Mon, 04 Jul 94 22:03:22 LCL
From: Joseph Broach <PC7170@UTKVM1.UTK.EDU>
Subject:      88 vs 109

Hello,

     I am hoping to purchase a Land Rover as soon as my house sells
and am trying to gain opinions on various Rovers. I have come to the
conclusion that the 88 and 109 are very different beasts indeed. The 109
obviously has more room, but is the 88 a superior off-road vehicle? Any
opinions on differences would be greatly appreciated! Also, is the Series
IIA and III superior to older LR's or are the Series I and II worth a
look. Thanks!!

                                 -J.B. PLRO (Potential Land Rover Owner)

------------------------------

From: Craig Murray <craigp@ocs.cpsg.com.au>
Subject: Re: 88 vs 10
Date: Tue, 5 Jul 94 12:32:58 EST

> Hello,
>      I am hoping to purchase a Land Rover as soon as my house sells
	 [ truncated by lro-digester (was 14 lines)]
> look. Thanks!!
>                                  -J.B. PLRO (Potential Land Rover Owner)

In what I have learned, SWB are better in mud, but LWB are better for
steep rocky terrain.  But generally its horses for courses.

As for what series, there is no different between the series II, IIA and the
III, but the series 1 does not have as much suspension travel, but the
series 1 is lighter than the later models, as well as thinner, which is good
for squezing down over grown tracks.  But all are good off road.

Just remember, the better you four wheel drive, the deeper in the brown
stuff, and the further away from help you will be.

==============================================================================
Craig Murray                                            1955 Series 1 86"
mail: craigp@ocs.cpsg.com.au                            2.25 desiel (Soon!)

------------------------------

Date: 05 Jul 1994 14:41:11 +1200
From: DAVID DEAN <DEAND@kea.lincoln.ac.nz>
Subject: Re: 88 vs 109

>Date sent:      Mon, 04 Jul 94 22:03:22 LCL
>From:           Joseph Broach <PC7170@UTKVM1.UTK.EDU>

>     I am hoping to purchase a Land Rover as soon as my house sells
>and am trying to gain opinions on various Rovers.

<SNIP, SNIP>

Bad timing!  I just sold my RangeRover so I could buy a house.  If only I 
had known we could have traded. :*)

Cheers,

------- (David L. Dean - Department of Economics & Marketing) -------
----------- (Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand) -----------
--- ("sober fearless pursuit of truth, beauty, & righteousness") ----

------------------------------

Subject: OVLR events...
From: dixon@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca (dixon kenner)
Date: Mon, 04 Jul 94 22:43:25 -0500

        In vague detail OVLR (aka Dixon and the little boys up north (who
        like to have fun and have more than 120 Land Rovers between them &
        generally rebuild half a dozen a year) <ahem)> have the following
        general guideline to put forth to those interested, and those OVLR
        members on the net who rather read news here than in the
        newsletter.

        July 23rd:  An off-road road building event.  Near Ottawa, Land
        Rovers will assemble with winches, people with chain saws and the
        like to design and build a road through a wood lot.  A learning
        excercise, this event is already over subscribed for participants.

        July 30th is the annual breakfast in Victoria Island in the middle
        of the Ottawa River off of Parliament Hill.  For those local to
        Fourfold, the cost is $3.00 for breakfast and the chance to show
        off your favourite aluminium pet.  Lat year saw fifteen Land Rovers
        appear.

        August 20/21st weekend is the Calabogie power cut/Flower Station
        Road off-road event.  An over night adventure, this venture is
        classified as a light to medium off-road down a Hydro Ontario hydro
        cut and fire road west of Ottawa.  By describing the event as
        medium off-road, the event does not include any heavy winching (if
        any serious winching at all, there is a gravel hydro road 100
        metres off the Land Rover trail) and a route that will not damage
        your vehicle, though giving it plenty of opportinity to show off
        axle articulation.  (For those into axle articulation, there is a
        side section off the main trail were an OVLR 101 Forward Control
        seriously embarrased an American vehicle a couple of years ago
        below he hydro dam.)  Passabe by Land Rovers, not Japanese or
        American inter-lopers.

         September:  Silver Lake, an overnight camping event with an off
         road course through Provincial lands with a static base similar to
         the OVLR Birthday Party, as opposed to the Calabogie power cut
         run which does not feature a static camping site on Saturday
         evening. The second September event is the Stowe British Invasion.

        Further details as they are announced.

        Rgds,

        Dixon

--
dixon kenner, dixon@fourfold.ocunix.on.ca
FourFold Symmetry, Nepean, Ontario, Canada

------------------------------

  END OF LAND ROVER OWNER DIGEST 

	
    
          
	



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