Chimaera MOT Nightmare....

[Gorvid]

Took the Chim in for a pre-MOT inspection today.

Turns out that the one and only job I thought was safely done is in fact going to fail the MOT

The outriggers were replaced last year just before I bought it and just after it passed it's last MOT.

The MOT team today said they would have to fail it because it has unsafe welding within 12inches of the seatbelt points. The outriggers have been re-welded together [having seemingly been angle-grinded off] but none of the welds are 360 degrees....they are only where you can reach to.

I assumed the outrigger replacement was 'body-off'.

Now I'm buggered - looks like a full body-off replacement.


So....

Estimates as to how much this is likely to cost?
Is there a way around it?
Are these MOT testers correct?

Ideas...???

[Zippee]

Can you not just coat the outriggers in waxoil? Hide the welds - I know not the 'correct' thing to do but....

[thegman]

do you know who did the work? was it private or garage?

[anonymous-user]

Sorry to hear that. I agree with Zippee though, waxoil sounds like a good idea...

[jubileejim]

Where did you get the MOT done. Sometimes it pays to take it to a specialist to arrange the MOT they know more about the cars and know the niggles they fail on. I would take your tvr to a specialist and ask their opinion how whether the welding should fail and MOT.

[Gorvid]

These chaps were pretty sure that an "unsafe weld" within 12inches was a fail.

The welds DO only run around half the steel tubing - they showed me. I'm concerned that hiding this doesn't make it stronger - and this is what the seat belts are anchored to

[TT Tim]

Zippee said:

Can you not just coat the outriggers in waxoil? Hide the welds - I know not the 'correct' thing to do but....

Bu**er me, I'm really worried that you even suggested that!

If they are, as has been said, butt welded tubes that haven't been welded all the way round then it was right to fail it, it now has quite a serious weak point, not to mention a great place to get water into the outrigger.

I know you can sleeve the outriggers, is that an option?

Tim

[TheGriffalo]

You can get the body up 2" without removing the exhaust, brakes electrics etc... That's how my Griff sits at the mo.

Not a good picture but it gives you an idea of the amount of access you can get. If you go for it I'd say a week of evenings and a weekend to lift, another weekend to drop.

[spend]

Joo has explained at length how to weld the back half from the front, then fill in the front part... Why the heck would someone only weld half way round and expect it to be satisfactory?

It sounds like its not the weld within 12" - its the effin rubbish weld that is causing the failure... Take it back to whoever did the welding and give them some earache...

Dave

[ray_von]

TT Tim said:

Zippee said:

Can you not just coat the outriggers in waxoil? Hide the welds - I know not the 'correct' thing to do but....

Bu**er me, I'm really worried that you even suggested that!

If they are, as has been said, butt welded tubes that haven't been welded all the way round then it was right to fail it, it now has quite a serious weak point, not to mention a great place to get water into the outrigger.

I know you can sleeve the outriggers, is that an option?

Tim

Too right Tim. I would suggest that the car is not road worthy. If it was my car it would be off the road.
Gorvid, look for posts by Frazer Guest/TVRMoneypit he's having a body off at RT Racing. He may be able to give you some numbers

[Gorvid]

spend said:

Joo has explained at length how to weld the back half from the front, then fill in the front part... Why the heck would someone only weld half way round and expect it to be satisfactory?

Is it possible to weld all the way around without taking the body off then ?

[V8 GRF]

spend said:

Joo has explained at length how to weld the back half from the front, then fill in the front part... Why the heck would someone only weld half way round and expect it to be satisfactory?

It sounds like its not the weld within 12" - its the effin rubbish weld that is causing the failure... Take it back to whoever did the welding and give them some earache...

Dave

This is the thread that Dave is referring to.

[Gorvid]

???

[spend]

Gorvid said:

???

Maybe this one?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Dave

[Zippee]

TT Tim said:

Zippee said:

Can you not just coat the outriggers in waxoil? Hide the welds - I know not the 'correct' thing to do but....

Bu**er me, I'm really worried that you even suggested that!

If they are, as has been said, butt welded tubes that haven't been welded all the way round then it was right to fail it, it now has quite a serious weak point, not to mention a great place to get water into the outrigger.

I know you can sleeve the outriggers, is that an option?

Tim

Sorry - I only meant so he could get it through the MOT. I never meant to sound as if I was suggesting he keep it like that, obviously get the welds properly sorted or at least checked out.

[falcemob]

Gorvid said:

The MOT team today said they would have to fail it because it has unsafe welding within 12inches of the seatbelt points. The outriggers have been re-welded together [having seemingly been angle-grinded off] but none of the welds are 360 degrees....they are only where you can reach to.

I assumed the outrigger replacement was 'body-off'.

Now I'm buggered - looks like a full body-off replacement.


So....

Estimates as to how much this is likely to cost?
Is there a way around it?
Are these MOT testers correct?

Ideas...???

Got any pictures?

[Bomber Denton]

Jon YHM

[petclub]

Jon you could try and email Tony Tiger for an opinion, he's a mechanicc, been an MOT examiner for years and can rebuild cars. He's used to TVRs and may give you an opinion about the failure aspects. Dave

[sapper]

Gorvid said:

spend said:

Joo has explained at length how to weld the back half from the front, then fill in the front part... Why the heck would someone only weld half way round and expect it to be satisfactory?

Is it possible to weld all the way around without taking the body off then ?

YHM
Ive got a bit of welding knowledge and id like to help if i can

[Gorvid]

Thanks for the support chaps..