MOT failure today

[alangraham]

Had an MOT failure today = not expected to be honest. Dipped beam L/H side too high and one fog light out. Some advisories like loose wheel bearings and a number plate light out. The number [p-late lamp was an abysmal design, a tiny flat bulb akin to a Christmas tree bulb. I just pulled its two strands of fuse wire apart, reinserted it and it worked again. But wobbling the wires underneath sent it on and off again. Are there any after market lights that could be fitted to replace these under-engineered Triumph items?
There is indeed some slack in a front wheel. evident when gripping the top of the tyre and rocking it fore and aft. To fix this, is it simply a case of taking the hub cover off, tightening a castellated nut, and slackening off till the split pin goes through the hole? I don't know enough about end play to feel properly competent. But am willing to give it a go if you've got any advice.
As for the front headlamp, I adjusted the top spring loaded screw (not the bottom one) with the eyebrow cover removed. Lights trained on the garage doors. I think I got it down a bit and level with the next one, though the tester did say if I returned with the panel removed he'd do it for me which I thought a bit odd- it's only held on with two screws.
Then he reckoned one of the front tyres was a bit feathered on the edges - but I travelled half a mile down a straight bypass on the way home with no hands on the wheel and it drove straight and true with no veer left or right.
Please feel free to comment. Car's a 1980 1500HL.
Alan.

[Macleesh]

Wheel bearings are a constant source of debate with MOT testers, by design the tapered bearing on a Dolomite will exhibit a small amount of play. Testers unfamiliar with cars of this period tend to assume it's wear and fail. If its set correctly which is the procedure you describe you can either attempt to educate the tester, or overtighten the nut for the journey to the test and set it correctly once you've secured the pass.
Regarding the headlight beam they're not allowed to remove panels during the test so he couldn't adjust them for you, most moderns have the adjusters under the bonnet so it's trivial for a friendly tester to tweak them if out of range.
Feel your pain on the other lights, 50 year old electrics keep you busy!

Sean