[PsychoSimon]

Hi guys,

I'm into off road driving an myself and my dad are building 2.9v6 lada niva with an auto box and power steering. obviously between us were are perfectly competant to fabricate and mount the hand controls, and I have got an hnc in mechanical engineering and still work for the mod as a welder fabricator.
Will this cause problems with mot's? I don't have any paperwork for my hand controls in the colt but it's a motability car and don't know if they keep those along with the logbook etc?

Also if I have hand controls do I need the pedals? I.E it's easier for me to do away with the pedals and go direct to the hand controls with the throttle and brakes.

Cheers guys,
Psycho

[Rotarymotion]

If the car is for off-road use only then you shouldn't need an MOT, or a tax disc. However, perhaps you are intending to also use the car on the road.

You certainly don't need to be "approved" to fit hand controls to your car, but what is important is that you fit them correctly so that they don't cause a hazard, and so that they work correctly. As far as I know the only "approvals" to fit hand controls are down to Motability who want to know that any fitter they use will do a competent job.

It is also important to tell your insurance company that hand controls have been fitted as they are a modification to the car. This should not alter the insurance premium.

MOT tests are no problem, but I don't think there are any specific tests for hand controls during the test, but if you remove the pedals, then obviously the testing is not so straight forward for someone not used to the hand controls. It might be worth leaving the pedals (or using flip-up pedals) for this reason.

I have fitted hand controls myself, but I have an engineering background. The insurance company simply acknowledged my letter telling them that hand controls had been fitted. I bought two sets via ebay, and modified them to suit my vehicle. I think I paid about £10 per set. They didn't cause any problems during MOT testing.

There are a few things to consider when setting up the hand controls:

1. You need to make sure there is enough mechanical advantage to operate the brakes in the event of a servo failure; you can't normally exert as much force with your hand as someone using their leg and foot.

2. If you arrange too much mechanical advantage in the system to satisfy item 1. above, then you may not have enough travel available to operate the brakes in the event of one braking circuit failing. This of course requires more "pedal" travel.

3. If you are competent in Engineering you will be able to work out all the other points for yourself.

Hope the above is of some help.

[Lee]

Hi physcosimon. Glad to here off another offroad nut. Im heavily into offroading building my own series one landrover hybrid, v8, auto, coiler with many mods and a tarted up discovery V8. As said im sure theres no law in fitting handcontrols but they guy who fitted mine (RIP Dave) told me if there was ever an accident, the first thing the police used to do was check with him as he fitted the handcontrols. He has insurance to cover him. Im not sure where people would stand if there was an accident and htey had fitted the controls themselves. If your just using your toy offroad then i wouldnt worry but make sure either way they are fitted correctly and very tight. I had a set come loose on myself oneday offroad and it wasnt funny. Anyway, you should post some pics, heres my toys, Im also building a 1956 Thames 300e van as a hotrod.

Billing 2007, The mud run.

[PsychoSimon]

Rotarymotion:
The car will be used primarily for off road, but I will need to drive it too and from events as my dad tows his own niva behind the shogun and I'm not going to be able to tow it with my colt 1.3 lol. We have fitted hand controls into my dad's shogun for me to use off road while mine is being done, it's just he hasn't had it MOT'd yet with them in so unsure of any complications. The setup we have made, although based around the system in my colt is of much better quality and uses rose joints instead of the clasp and cotter pin arrangement (which rattles a lot and does my head in!!) in the colt. I think any engineer would be happy to let them be used in a real world situation and they are easy to use.

Lee:
Great to see another off roader too!! your vehicles look very smart mate. Wish I had gone with a landy now kind of. At least there are parts that are made to fit the v8 etc. Not much suport like that with the niva!!

We have had to chop the sump to fit the front diff, and fit a larger oil cooler to get the oil volume up a bit. The steering box was in the way at the back of the engine bay and was a none power jobby anyway, so we have used a shogun setup which shifts it to the front of the bay and is power assisted. The gearbox was longer than the standard 5 speed so we have had to move the transfer box back 5 inches and adjust the prop shafts accordingly. the list goes on and on!! Had it running though and it seems to have ample power and tourque

I don't know if you feel the same but I find it easier driving off road with the hand controls? especially with the auto box it's a lot smoother but I can keep the throttle smoother with my hand than I used to with my foot lol.


thanks for your input guys, will put some pics up when I get some. I think I'll call the insurance company as well just to double check about the "incase of an accident" situation. better safe than sorry!!


Cheers guys,
Simon