----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, 2004-05-23 16:15
Subject: [USMA:29936] Briggs and
Stratton
Hello Mighty Chimp. What country do you
live in.
I live in the US
Briggs have exported their engines around the
world for many years.
Exporting finished products using
non-metric components to a metric country is not a problem. Building a
non-metric product in a metric country is a problem. One has to find an
economical source of non-metric parts, which may prove very, very difficult if
not impossible.
They do have a line of engines that are totaly
metric. The line of engines is called Vanguard they are made in
Japan.
As I just stated, the reason for building
this model in metric was the difficulty in finding non-metric parts in a
metric country. They can be produced, but at what cost in time and money
for a small quantity?
Harley-davidson probably one of the most
pro American culture companys introduced their new liquid cooled bike in Jul.
2001. It is totally metric from top to bottom. Harley-davidson
have been exporting their machines around the world for years with inch
fasteners.
Did Harley design and
build the engine themselves in North America or was it
outsourced? Was a consultant involved?
Even if it was designed and built in the
US Harley may have found that high tensile fasteners, the type used in the
auto industry may be harder and harder to obtain in inch sizes at a reasonable
cost. If everyone else is using metric fasteners for similar products,
then Harley would find itself spec-ing special parts if it chose to continue
in inches and opted for metric as the economical, sensible thing to do.
As for exporting inches, see my response
to Briggs above.
But, just because the Harley's of today
are 100 % metric in design and production, your average hog isn't going to
know that or may even dispute you if you insist it is. That is the
beauty of marketing. One can hide aspects of a product that may upset
people and make people think they are getting what they want. Only the
mechanic will know for sure as he will have access to the factory spec
manuals. These guys are use to working on metric products so they won't
freak out working on a metric Harley.
One more thing. A guy I work with
has a sister-in-law that worked for Harley and was terminated when Harley
closed the local plant and moved all the work to Mexico. So much for
being more American then apple pie. So maybe their new metricness is a
result of their bikes being built in Mexico.
I think it's just great that they went to
metric on their new bike. I agree with you when you say that most people when
they buy grocerys don't look at the weight of the package. They know
that one is bigger than the other, but if you asked them how many grams or
ounces in the package probably a lot of people couldn't tell
you.
Euric
