Mort Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 I have one of the Caterham-supplied motorcycle type tax disc holders, which works very well, but which is a PITA when it's time to change the tax disc. These have a number of small bolts with Allen heads around the edge as a secure way of fixing the glass holder to the base. I don't have a spanner that's the right size for the tiny nuts that are used, and it would, in any case, be difficult to use a spanner due to the limited space available between the body and the back of the tax disc holder - so in the past I have used a pair of needle-nose pliers. Not ideal, as you need to maintain a grip all the time, but it works after a fashion. This time around I used a small pair of forceps that I bought from an auto jumble. These can be locked onto the small nuts, and then the Allen key can be used to remove the bolt, which makes the whole process very simple. Reversing the process for re-fitting, with the forceps again locked onto the nuts, makes positioning the nut very much easier, and a very fiddly job becomes quite straightforward. Probably obvious to some of you, but I thought that I'd pass this on anyway as it may be of use to someone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted June 28, 2011 Area Representative Share Posted June 28, 2011 My tax disc holder was not a Caterham supplied item but of the construction you mention. I think I took it off (it's on a stantion bolt) and put a socket on the back, the heads were a small allen key size. Regretably some of the ali bolts sheered off so I run with fewer than the proper number at the moment. I'll have to find a m/c shop and replace the unit. If I can find a better design, I may give that a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoops Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Laminate the tax disc as well so you can slide it in without having to undo all the surrounding bolts complately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Sewell Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Not sure where my wife got mine, but the backplate is threaded for the allen screws to go into. So there are no nuts on the back. Has worked well for 15 years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 I should perhaps add that I left the most awkward of the bolts in situ, and just loosened it slightly to allow the front part of the tax disc holder to swing down - so everything was still positioned correctly when I swung it back again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2slo Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mort Posted June 28, 2011 Author Share Posted June 28, 2011 Mine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Locust Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Undo the big bolt it is held on with (screen stanchion bolt on my car). Take indoors. Change tax disc on kitchen table whilst drinking a cup of tea (optional). Reassembly is the reverse of dismantling as it says in all the best manuals. Why make the job difficult? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Go to post office, buy tax-disc (or do it online), cut or tear around the perforations, place in wallet. Job done! I used to laminate mine - but gave up when I rounded the nuts/hex-heads as in the earlier posts. Shortly thereafter, the entire m-cycle holder thing fell off (or was wrenched off) the car. I've never been challenged about the lack of a visible disc and am quite happy to take my chances given that I can present the disc on demand (not that you should need to given the ability to instantly interrogate the DVLA records by anyone who needs to know). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Another top tip is to make a colour p'copy and chuck that in the holder. Carry the original in case of a roadside check. Passing coppers and traffic wardens will see the copy and tick the box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ. Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Has anyone tried a disc holder like this one here? I've been looking for one, and I like the way the front just unscrews. Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john g Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Duncan - tried one of those, not very good. After 12 months I couldn't unscrew the thing. Bit of grease on the threads when first using my help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted June 28, 2011 Area Representative Share Posted June 28, 2011 I have had one of those in the past. I found that they leaked (so I laminated the tax disc, as someone else suggested). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ. Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 Thanks, I'm glad I didn't waste my money. Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reg Posted June 28, 2011 Share Posted June 28, 2011 My earlier thoughts on Caterhams cheap and nasty effort here. I've now got an Oberon one and it's a beautifully designed and made thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claire Voyant Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 As most checks are ANPR cameras feeding computers, why bother. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-B Posted June 29, 2011 Share Posted June 29, 2011 Quoting Mr Locust: Undo the big bolt it is held on with (screen stanchion bolt on my car). Take indoors. Change tax disc on kitchen table whilst drinking a cup of tea (optional).[pQuote] Add in, use wife's eyebrow tweezers, so easier to extra/insert. Until wife finds you've done this, and they may be stuck in inopportune places 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivaan Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RS2000 Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 😬 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stationary M25 Traveller Posted June 30, 2011 Share Posted June 30, 2011 I would be wary of traditional tax disc holder on screen as pictured above. Susceptible to rain damage and theft ! Also sudden loss if you drive without the doors ....... last year, someone had one fly at speed over the mountain on the IOM ..... never to be seen again ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bricol Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 I've got a screw together tax disc holder like the Halcyon one - disc sits in a rubber wallet, clear piece of plastic in-front, trapped together by the screw on front - as mentioned, some anti-sieze on the threads, and it's sorted. Doesn't leak, but even if it did, the tax disc inks seem to be waterproof from previous experience. Bri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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