Japanese Made HD Part$
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 31
From: Alberta
Japanese Made HD Part$
1976 AMF HD FLH 74 CID
Is it treason to use foreign made parts in my shovelhead?
I read that foreign parts began going into HDs in 1972 (ie. Keihin carburator), and that HDs are now being made in Taiwan. Is this true?
Japanese prices can be 1/4 of USA made stuff.
Are Japanese aftermarket engine parts quality made; is jap aftermarket stuff better than taiwan or china aftermarket stuff?
Am I a fool to consider jap parts, or a fool to keep to USA products when Harley Davidson itself isn't?
Is it treason to use foreign made parts in my shovelhead?
I read that foreign parts began going into HDs in 1972 (ie. Keihin carburator), and that HDs are now being made in Taiwan. Is this true?
Japanese prices can be 1/4 of USA made stuff.
Are Japanese aftermarket engine parts quality made; is jap aftermarket stuff better than taiwan or china aftermarket stuff?
Am I a fool to consider jap parts, or a fool to keep to USA products when Harley Davidson itself isn't?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,071
Likes: 1,006
actually hd used jap parts further back than that.
like most other mfg's, hd gets parts made from all over, BUT, they hold strict tolerances. if you do that even with china parts, they will work well.
BUT, not all parts are created equal. i have used con rod sets from japan in sportster and nary an issue. research well.
most hd shops will sell you parts from 3rd party vendors since hd does not have them available.
like most other mfg's, hd gets parts made from all over, BUT, they hold strict tolerances. if you do that even with china parts, they will work well.
BUT, not all parts are created equal. i have used con rod sets from japan in sportster and nary an issue. research well.
most hd shops will sell you parts from 3rd party vendors since hd does not have them available.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 31
From: Alberta
actually hd used jap parts further back than that.
like most other mfg's, hd gets parts made from all over, BUT, they hold strict tolerances. if you do that even with china parts, they will work well.
BUT, not all parts are created equal. i have used con rod sets from japan in sportster and nary an issue. research well.
most hd shops will sell you parts from 3rd party vendors since hd does not have them available.
like most other mfg's, hd gets parts made from all over, BUT, they hold strict tolerances. if you do that even with china parts, they will work well.
BUT, not all parts are created equal. i have used con rod sets from japan in sportster and nary an issue. research well.
most hd shops will sell you parts from 3rd party vendors since hd does not have them available.
Last edited by tinkering; Feb 3, 2023 at 09:37 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 31
From: Alberta
Wow! Wow, so much for American steel, and proudly made in the USA. Maybe Trumo is right about all of that but might be too late? Nothing like beholding the American dream disintegrate in front of one's eyes😢😭
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 31
From: Alberta
actually hd used jap parts further back than that.
like most other mfg's, hd gets parts made from all over, BUT, they hold strict tolerances. if you do that even with china parts, they will work well.
BUT, not all parts are created equal. i have used con rod sets from japan in sportster and nary an issue. research well.
most hd shops will sell you parts from 3rd party vendors since hd does not have them available.
like most other mfg's, hd gets parts made from all over, BUT, they hold strict tolerances. if you do that even with china parts, they will work well.
BUT, not all parts are created equal. i have used con rod sets from japan in sportster and nary an issue. research well.
most hd shops will sell you parts from 3rd party vendors since hd does not have them available.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 165
Likes: 31
From: Alberta
I did a search of Dixie Distributing and found this article. According to it Dixie Distributing and BMI Karts and Parts should be good parts?
https://www.dixiemotorcycleparts.com...orcycle-parts/
https://www.dixiemotorcycleparts.com...orcycle-parts/
Last edited by tinkering; Feb 3, 2023 at 10:06 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 7,444
From: OH
They had a huge amount of O.E. WWII parts / Dixie stuff and they bought an enormous amount of H-D stuff from the Factory when HD "bought itself out" from AMF in `82
I visited their warehouse in the `90s
The remaining inventory is now @ BMI parts ( also in OH )
You don`t mention what type of parts you require
The conventional wisdom was and remains that if you are building a stock engine, Dixie cylinders / pistons / rod sets etc are up to the task
Many budget builds were done over the years using this stuff