Today in the workshop .....

selectedgrub · 2026-01-23T10:33:59+0000

Probably a pig but it's tough looking

Cato · 2026-01-23T10:45:34+0000

Robotstar5 said:
Did he tell you what he plans to do with it now?

He's coming in on Monday to collect it, beyond that he didn't say but I imagine by Monday he'll have spoken to people and decided.

He did ask if I thought it was a bent MOT in October. I told him I couldn't say, but it would definitely fail an MOT on a number of major defects if it went for one today. A copout, but you have to be very careful on what you say in case you get quoted, and more so if it's likely to go legal. Fortunately I spent some time doing the 'expert witness' thing in the 1990s so I'm more aware than most in the trade of the potential pitfalls.

Mick Annick · 2026-01-23T10:49:37+0000

Cato said:
Another trike job just came in for various bits and bobs plus "it feels funny, see what you think."

Bought sight unseen from Scotland, been sitting in his garage since November.

Well the first thing I thought was "It seems to be listing to port.". 30 seconds with a tape measure and the axle isn't central, it's an inch over to the left as you sit on it, and something's twisted as the swing arm pivot is an inch higher on the right than it is on the left. I don't think he's going to be getting any good news when I've had a good look round it.

View attachment 527484 View attachment 527483

I’ve never been up close with a trike, but that does all look a bit agricultural…

harveyp6 · 2026-01-23T10:51:30+0000

Cato said:
He did ask if I thought it was a bent MOT in October. I told him I couldn't say, but it would definitely fail an MOT on a number of major defects if it went for one today. A copout, but you have to be very careful on what you say in case you get quoted,

The easy way for the owner to find out without involving you is to submit it for a test and use the failure sheet if he decides to take things further.

Cato · 2026-01-23T10:58:53+0000

harveyp6 said:
The easy way for the owner to find out without involving you is to submit it for a test and use the failure sheet if he decides to take things further.

If he goes that route I can write him a report, but it can be a long and expensive process and more so if he bought it privately. He'd likely be awarded costs in the end, but he'd have to pay them up front and even if the court award costs there's no guarantee that he'd get them.

Unfortunately something in this price bracket (£2.5k) rarely works out financially viable to fight against a private seller. Spending a couple of hundred on an inspection before purchase can save people a fortune but most a reluctant to do it because if the vehicle turns out to be fine they feel it's wasted money. :dontknow:

harveyp6 · 2026-01-23T11:07:15+0000

I wouldn't take it further than showing the seller proof of all the problems with the threat of further legal action, but if that didn't work, if the owner was prepared to spend the time and effort dismantling it and selling it as parts he could recoup at least some of his money.

Cato · 2026-01-23T11:18:53+0000

harveyp6 said:
I wouldn't take it further than showing the seller proof of all the problems with the threat of further legal action, but if that didn't work, if the owner was prepared to spend the time and effort dismantling it and selling it as parts he could recoup at least some of his money.

That's the most sensible approach.