Tony B Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 Hi all, searched the archives for info etc and found that there may be a few things my car is missing for SVA, maybe you could clarify/assist please. Brake/Handbrake light is it necessary, the brake reservoir has the connector but it being a BEC it doesnt have the relevant cabling in the loom, is this something I can get hold of or is it relatively easy to wire up. Steering wheel, currently have a very nice small Westfield Removable which is obviously not SVA complient, does anyone have a spare wheel/boss I could borrow for the test? or can anyone point me in the direction of a very cheap one I understand the boss is from an Allegro/Maestro... Emissions, engine is a 98/99 R1, from what I can gather this will probably require a CAT fitted, bit of a challenge as the exhaust has been custom built to a specific size etc and obviously nowhere to stick one in, Id rather not have to buy a complete new system just to stick a CAT in, I know a chap who can build one for me so that isnt really the issue, was just wondering if anyone else has had BEC's on SVA without a CAT (please dont state the obvious about age of engine and CAT requirements ) Im tempted to book her in and go for the check/fail to see what I have to do to get it passed. Any other tips from BEC owners would be greatly appreciated And any offers of a Pre-Check from experienced builders would also be greatly appreciated and may lead to a crate of the amber stuff if the car gets through ok... TIA Tony.. Quote
mb893 Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 Brake/Handbrake light is it necessary, the brake reservoir has the connector but it being a BEC it doesnt have the relevant cabling in the loom, is this something I can get hold of or is it relatively easy to wire up. Are you sure? Both my Mega's had/have the necessary wiring/lamp for this and the first one was checked come SVA time. Emissions Not heard of a BEC that needs a CAT test getting through without a one. Think Stuart Taylor does a 'Rent-a-CAT' deal... drive in, get it fitted, drive out jobbie from some reports. I know Ric Long did this. Not a lot of difference between SVA'ing a BEC to a CEC... just make sure the exhaust is quiet enough as you'll be asked to rev the engine 'a bit' Brake balance front to back? Aeroscreen not in line of site? Correct tyre speed code? Mirrors? Regards John Quote
busapower2001 Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 Tony, They will test the handbrake and it's warning light (the light must have the proper warning explanation mark symbol - a simple red light isn't acceptable). They also test the mastercylinder fluid level switch (which is hooked up to the handbrake warning light switch. I am afraid I can't help you with the wiring but I am sure you can sort something out. I understood that removable wheels weren't sva compliant!? I might be wrong on this one. But I do know that the recommendation is to fit one post-sva. Have a look at Moomins BEC site since I know he has fitted a removable wheel. You will fail first time! Or put it this way it is very unlikely to pass first time! I had 7 minor really niggly issues which I failed on (Shrewsbury) and he thought I'd had the car pre-sva'd! My examer also said that 2pages of failure items was a normal result so I was quite happy with just half a page. When I had my retest he even showed me a car that had 4 pages of stuff although the owner had built it from a part completed pre-sva days kit so not really suprising it had so many issues. I would agree with your have a go attitude....go to the test fail, get a list of exactly what you need to do to pass then go for the 35 quid retest. Job done! Although I would definitely sort out the CAT issue before hand. Quote
Tony B Posted September 25, 2003 Author Posted September 25, 2003 Guys thanks for the responses, I called about the CAT yesterday, the concern I have is that its at the wrong end of the world for me, its a fit then remove for over a hundred quid, what happens come MOT time? its another hundred quid and so on, Id rather buy a system and have it fitted then remove it/refit for MOT Time... Guess the brake light is in the R1 Speedo assembly, just need to wire it all up to the switches and sensors I guess.. Tony Quote
timd Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 You'll need to borrow an upper steering column inner to go with your SVA compliant wheel and allegro boss. The removable bosses have a welded on bit at the top of the column which the wheel slides onto - this replaces the splines that the allegro boss bolts to. Quote
Tony B Posted September 25, 2003 Author Posted September 25, 2003 Tim, fortunately mine has been fitted in such a way that the spline has not been welded on, the guy who built it screwed the quick release mechanism inside the splined bit and then split pinned it in place. So just really need the boss and wheel, I may get an allegro wheel just for a giggle... Quote
timd Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 Aha, that's handy! In that case, ignore everything I just said! Quote
zvezdochka Posted September 25, 2003 Posted September 25, 2003 Biggest problem from my CEC SVA was front to rear brake balance. Rears were too good, or as the examiner said the fronts were rubbish, (Westfield standard M cylinder, M16 front calipers and sierra rears) This was solved by new pads at front, lots of bedding in and gentlle braking over 30+ miles (private roads ). Still failed but examiner warmed up front discs in car park and just scraped a pass. Other initial fail item was rear fog switch wiring, they wanted no illumination when side lights were on, only when headlights were on. I was amazed at how accurate the brake test was, with no room for error, all computer assessed. Good luck but initial fail is normal. At least you get to know what needs sorting Quote
Megablade Paul Posted September 26, 2003 Posted September 26, 2003 Just a couple of things to add to all that good advice. 1. You only have a set period of time to re-present the car after initial fail so bear this in mind if there is a long list of things to fix (sorry can't remember how long but ahave a chat with the guys are your local SVA station they're usually happy to talk. 2. When you submit your application for SVA you have to state maximum revs which is used to assess the noise test. As we all know Bike engines only rev to 9000 rpm dont they Quote
Tony B Posted September 27, 2003 Author Posted September 27, 2003 Paul, so if the car only revs to 9000 were looking at 3/4 that for the noise test? if so I may just make it through... will definately make it through with a cat in place.. How did you get yours through or are you running a pre-CAT requirement engine.. at this rate it may be worthwhile buying a new engine, the amount of money its going to cost to get this lump through SVA.. Quote
sjtoolan Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 Tony, Whereabouts in the country are you? We got our megabusa through sva in May this year. The examiner said it would probably fail before we even started, but in the end it passed first time. Its not a bad idea to go with the attitude that it will fail, but I wouldn't leave anything to chance. Emissions and noise you can't do much about, since we all know how reliable noise meters can be. You should be ok if you have standard Westfield parts and you've followed the instructions in the manual (where there are some!. In my opinion, the rest of the stuff is really common sense, so if it looks like a cable or rubber hose may snag on something then clip it up or wrap it in that plastic convoluted tubing stuff. Stick plastic caps on all the nuts and bolt heads outside the bodywork. Basically make it look like you have paid a lot of attention to the detail, tidy engine bay, that sort of stuff. The two simplest things to make your life easier, which should have come with the kit, are the fibreglass covers to go round the headlight brackets and the two vinyl covered aluminium panels that go inside the 'cockpit' and cover the join between the main body tub and your scuttle. Simon. Quote
Tony B Posted September 27, 2003 Author Posted September 27, 2003 Simon, Im in Blasingsmoke, near Reading... I bought the car complete and part ready for SVA, as I look over it theres more and more little niggly jobs to do, Ive taken loads of cars through MOT so have a reasonable Idea what will faile e.g. both Track Rod ends had perished rubber and a boot on one side of the steering rack had a tear in it, both replaced today, dropped the oil and changed filter too. Also noticed that for some obscure reason the previous occupier had routed one of the expansion pipes from the rad to the wrong side of the tank.. My main SVA type issue will, as you say be Noise and Emissions, I have a pretty accurate Noise meter (it was calibrated by the chaps at Goodwood) I tested it out on the Elise which read 94/95 (it had read the same at Combe a couple of weeks ago) I Ran a test against Wessie and it was 104 at 7krpm, it has a custom built zorst with a titanium bike racing can on, sounds nice but is too loud obviously, There is also nowhere to stick a CAT so Im going to have to butcher it anyway.... Shame really as its a nice can, I may get another can which is quieter and will allow me to put a CAT in for SVA/MOTs and use the current one just for road driving.. I know a bloke who can make zorsts up but hes a bit expensive, have already earmarked a can, just need to get it welded up with the CAT in... To the other BEC owners, would a high flow sports cat affect the performance much and of course would it be ok for emissions? Quote
jamie Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 are you having your sva @ southampton ? this makes all the differance!! if you can meet the emissions without a cat you dont need to have one i think? jamie Quote
Tony B Posted September 27, 2003 Author Posted September 27, 2003 Jamie, the only concern with emissions is the Lambda settings, without a Lambda sensor this just aint going to pass.. Im going to have the engine set up and checked over by the local bike shop prior to SVA anyway but am expecting that a CAT will be required. Due to the bad reports regarding Southampton Ill be looking to get it tested elsewhere, a friend of mine built a caterham and had it tested somewhere north of London so Ill probably head out that way.. Quote
jamie Posted September 27, 2003 Posted September 27, 2003 Due to the bad reports regarding Southampton Ill be looking to get it tested elsewhere, a friend of mine built a caterham and had it tested somewhere north of London so Ill probably head out that way.. tony wise move my mate runs a bike shop in ashford kent and he is the man that dyno's them and does all mapping on a bike rolling road i could ask him any tech info on figures etc for you also he may have a cat 2nd hand or an old shagged one to do sva the lambda is only sensor can you trick the management system with a value resistor or some made up box of tricks ? jamie Quote
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