----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, 2004-05-23 15:32
Subject: [USMA:29932] Briggs and
Stratton
Hello Chimp and all. The engine that Brigs
and Stratton converted from standard to metric fasteners is built in the U
S. They have been making this model of engine for about 8 or 9 years. It
is a 206 cc horizontal shaft model intek. As i said in my last post they
changed the fasteners on this engine on Jul. 1 03. I could be wrong but i
don't think a large company like B and S were forced to change the fasteners
since that engine has been produced for some time with inch fasteners.
The only way to know for
sure would be to ask someone who works in the plant or who was responsible for
the change as to why the change was made. Even though they have made it for years witrh imperial
fasteners they may have found the fasteners in inches in the grade and size
they were using becoming harder to find, especially if competitors using
similar fasteners were using the metric type. They may also have
other models totally metric already and may have wanted to cut down on
redundant inventory so they converted just to use a common fastener type
throughout their operations.
They may also plan to export part
or all of the production in the future and want to be
ready. i suggest you contact the factory, ask for someone in
engineering responsible for the design of that particular model and ask why
they did it. But first tell they you approve of the change so they don't
think they are getting a complaint.
Chimp you say if i asked the people who work at
the Briggs factory how they would like to drive on streets with metric speeds,
if the speed signs and distance signs were changed at the same time and cars
were equipt with metric speedometers i still say there wouldn't be a
problem.
I'm trying to imagine a red neck
factory worker who mist likely doesn't even know the products he is producing
is metric accepting metrication of road signs or other aspects of the
economy.
When metric speed and distance signs came
on Canadian roads people got used to them very quickly. Before the
metric signs were installed people didn't think metric at all. My point is
that people can adapt.If Canada had gone ahead with the metric conversion it
would have become part of every day life and it has as far as it has
gone. Thanks again for letting me ramble.
Americans don't adapt well to
change. They whine, whine and whine until the old ways are
restored. Canadians are different. They are not a super-power
who think their ways are right and everyone else's is wrong.
If the pride of America's power
were to collapse and the US was humbled before the world, I would
then say the country would have a chance at metrication, but definitely not
before.
Euric
