'Modifications' banned

2 strokes and no legislation to set what the makers have to do. There should be but the manufacturers probably just said no way. That's how it works.

Cat's on diesels are another case. Initially they were uncontrolled and needn't have been. Now just like petrol cars they probably dump the odd quart down the exhaust pipe to get the cat hot and clean it up. They have to because lots of people don't drive their cars hard often enough.

It also works the other way round some times. The industry said we nearly have lean burn sorted - gov said no fit cats.

It might be worth mentioning that cars have been type approved for a long time. It put many models off the road. That along with emission rules. I managed to get an E Type very cheaply following a fuel crisis. The 3.8L model would do 150mph, the V12 nothing like it. My swb 4.2L very close too it until I "decoked" the engine following advice from some one who had worked on Norton works race bikes. Easily after that and no noticeable modifications. Even the carbs and cam were left alone. I did have to use a colour tune to set them up every couple of months to get decent fuel consumption. Why's it gone - wouldn't get through type approval. The whole industry was given a severe shake up most down to a US lawyer who got rather annoyed about some of the characteristics of certain features used on a number of them. This included things like the likelihood of petrol dripping on the exhaust system and certain style of suspension and all sorts of other things.

John

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John

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It's worth pointing out that no EU directive can become UK law unless our politicians agree to it. Trouble is our lot are so spineless they don't seem to just say ' sorry we're not doing that'. Then our civil servants get involved and turn a short simple sensible directive into something silly and bureaucratic.

Edited By duncan webster on 11/04/2016 15:38:03

No, the UK has a say in the writing of directives and votes on the European enactment of a directive but once a directive is issued it must be incorporated into UK law. To quote from Leeds University's law department website:

"Directives: These are requirements that member states change their national laws within a stated period of time in order to give effect to the directive. in the UK. Directives can be implemented either by statute or by delegated legisiation under the European Communities Act 1972."

Russell.

There is always a certain amount of the red herrings about as well Duncan. Working time directive for instance. I had to sign a piece of paper withdrawing my rights to that. Pointless the company doing this really and all it means in most cases is that I couldn't be forced to work more hours. Not so for true HGV drivers and rightly so.

Sending people on step ladder usage courses - just makes companies whiter than white if some one falls off one and sues.

Certain other types of training - allows companies to claim a better qualified work force. The need to be sure they need to know what ever it is they are doing.

Not in the Euro - first time because of the risk of having to join the snake and maintain the value of the GBP. 2nd time probably because we have finished up being too expensive at the levels the exchange rate was then. I should check that but believe the rates suggested that at the time.

A lot of the working place directives are needed really. I have worked on some aspects of that were the company was well aware that they were harming people. Asbestos is an excellent example of that especially the blue stuff but lets call the white st danio, should do for a while. There are others,

It's all life really.

They never managed to interfere with the British Banger. I mean sausage is an essential source of nourishment for many people even with the junk that's often in them, no way should they have more than 80% meat in them. Actually I think it was less than that. we sometimes buy cheap sausage from Liddl.

John

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If the EU promised to ban chavs putting drainpipe exhausts on cars and limit the noise from motor cycles I'd probably vote for the UK to stay in the EU!

Apparently, French insurance - If you fit a tow bar to your car, and someone drives into the back of you, then it is your fault because you have modified the car (Fitted a tow bar) !!
BobH

Russel, as you say, it must be incorporated into UK law, but until out politicians nod their heads it isn't, so we can still say 'no we're not doing that'. What would the commission then do? They haven't got a police force, so all they can do is take us to the european court and fine us. then we say 'well we're not paying', or 'take it out of what we gave you last year'. Are they going to throw us out? I think not as we are a major nett contributor. If we stop agreeing to all this twaddle they will eventually get the message if only to not look stupid. When they concentrate on free trade and leave individual countries to sort out MOT etc we will be a lot better off

2 strokes and no legislation to set what the makers have to do. There should be but the manufacturers probably just said no way. That's how it works.

What a load of tosh ! Sorry to be blunt, but that statement beggars belief.

Vehicle rules & regulations are regularly updated ( a new set come in next year, which will end the life of some models) & manufacturers have to comply if they wish to sell - light motorcycles & scooters are no different to any other vehicle (from electrically assisted bicycles upwards) in this regard and have been for decades.

As supplied, all motorcycles have to meet (increasingly stringent) noise legislation - the "problem" is that anyone can sell an un-approved "not for road use" noise box to the young and gullible, knowing full well that there is insufficient roads policing to apprehend the users of these illegally modified vehicles. And should the antisocial barstewards actually be apprehended, there is no comeback on the sellers of the non-compliant parts who hide behind the "we sell these bits for show bikes only" excuse.

Nigel B

I believe that the Building regulations are an excellent set of documents. It is only wallies who get the hump about having to comply that do not like them. If I were going to purchase a home I would like to know that t was built to a certain standard & not some cobble up by some know all DIY muppet. I would also like to know that I was not living in a tinderbox that might burn or electrocute my kids. I know accidents still happen but not through fault of the building regs. They have improved standards over the years

As for car standards I some how have sympathy with the legislative. I would feel a lot safer knowing the idiots who mess with cars & bikes to the detriment of safety are curtailed. Of course there are bits that seem over the top but usually these are sorted over time. The change in law will not upset me.

One contributor said it was between him the MOT centre & the insurance co- Well sorry friend -I have no confidence in your insurance company to protect my grandchild

Edited By Sam Longley 1 on 11/04/2016 20:37:46

No bribery -- sorry mate but having spent my life in the building industry I can assure you that you are deluded- Say no more - nudge nudge , wink wink!!

Granted privatisation has not always worked, but can you assure me that standards were not on the downward slope anyway.

As for hard time- have you ever tried getting planning permission when the officer responsible for your application is always taking time off to claim the early retirement or compensation on trumped up grounds of stress etc or some other totally false con

Standards in our local authority town halls is pathetic- If you want Friday off, just start coughing on Monday & play the sickie.

The noisy 'cans' still fail the construction and use for aftermarket exhaust and the MOT should weed them out.

assuming they ever get tested of course

I'm sure you are correct. I know nothing what so ever about what goes on having worked for the motor industry for 40 years.

John

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Well having OWNED a commercial vehicle garage, not worked at one, and been closely associated with the ministry as regards testing since it first came out I fully agree and endorse what Dave says.

After all when it's your living and your shilling on the line you do take note.

The noisy 'cans' still fail the construction and use for aftermarket exhaust and the MOT should weed them out.

The C & U Regs and what is tested in an MoT are somewhat different. It is possible to get an MoT pass on a bike that doesn't meet C & U - MoT checks you have a speedo fitted if required by age and/or capacity, for example, but doesn't check that it works, which C& U requires & which specifies the required accuracy for the functioning instrument. Same with exhausts - unless it is overtly marked "Not for Road use" or similar, the MoT only checks that an exhaust is securely fitted & not rotted through. It is quite possible to get an MoT without starting the engine & there is no noise meter test. There is a current "fad" in motorcycle customising known as "bobbers" or "brat bikes" - basically strip off most of the legally required bits like mud & chain guards, fit oversize "ballon" tyres, minimalist lights etc. to get a "look". These abominations are frequently sold "with MoT", as the MoT only checks that mud & chain guards, if fitted, are not going to fall off or maim pedestrians. It is C & U that states that mud & chain guards are required to use the vehicle on the road.

C & U infringements require the Police or VOSA (or whatever it's current name is) to get involved.

Which brings us back to the "no modifications" bit - if our MoT was similar to the German TuV test, there would be a specific requirement for Johnny Moped to have a "Certificate of Conformity" for his non-standard exhaust or he would automatically fail the MoT. Same would apply to tampering with the standard or aftermarket exhaust - automatic fail.

Hmmm - They're obviously working... **LINK**

My gripe is really only with Part P. It is only this part which prevents otherwise perfectly safe work being conducted by competent but "unqualified" people.

Jon

Thinking about Part P, I have had a kitchen refit that entailed some rewiring. This happened about a couple of years ago. Since then I have found one case of the washing machine isolator switch wiring causing the RCD to trip randomly. Inspection showed that one of the live ring main wires was not secured correctly. Since then there have been no further nuisance tripping due to this fault. Then there was a fishy type smell that took a while to locate. It turned out to be the insulation on the live connection to the dish washer isolator overheating. Again because of a high resistant connection. Fortunately it was discovered by noticing the isolating switch had become quite warm.

And finally, up to now, I thought it would be a good idea to do a general inspection of the house wiring in the areas that had been previously worked on and then I found that only one of the kitchen ring main live wires was terminated in the consumer unit, the other one was just loose, not connected at all.

So much for so-called proficient Part P registered electricians.

John

We should to be careful what we wish for, a modifications ban is the thin end of the wedge, I think you will find its the big manufacturer's lobbying to get all cars etc bonnet sealed in order to lock you into them for servicing, plus they want rid of the second hand car market, and you in debt......

A motorcycle can have a daytime MOT in which case no lights are required other than a brake light.

As a far as Bobber's are concerned, I agree some look ridiculous...... but no less ridiculous than an old dude on a puffer train... but I'm a selfish &*&&8 so Id ban everything..... just in case......

Yes, but don't worry it's registered, there is a paper-trail and it probably cost you a sight more than it would have done before Part P came into force for the same work done to the same standard

Jon

John Gibbs, you beat me to it. Building regulations are obviously working well in Scotland! Aided, no doubt, by Edinburgh City Council, which always appears to be in self-destruct mode.

Yes the work was registered, competance certification is not worth much it seems.

john.