Frustrated with limited American made parts!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 24,984
Likes: 19,420
From: New York
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 11,223
From: NE Ohio
as one born and raised in the industrial midwest, now known as the "rust belt", I can tell you that ship sailed in the '80s and went warp drive in the '90s
it's not political thing , it's a money thing
..L.T.A.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 11,223
From: NE Ohio
Donno about that, Neighbor.
They pound out plenty cheap crap, that's for sure (cause there's a yuge market of cheap crap buyers)
But they're a modern industrialized powerhouse that are capable of making what ever the customer specs from cheapest materials to most robust.
That's the difference in a $39 Skill/B&D circular saw and $150+ Bosch or DeWalt circ-saw
it's folly to think the Asians workers, engineers and businessmen are any more or less capable manufacturing whatever their customer specs
..L.T.A.
They pound out plenty cheap crap, that's for sure (cause there's a yuge market of cheap crap buyers)
But they're a modern industrialized powerhouse that are capable of making what ever the customer specs from cheapest materials to most robust.
That's the difference in a $39 Skill/B&D circular saw and $150+ Bosch or DeWalt circ-saw
it's folly to think the Asians workers, engineers and businessmen are any more or less capable manufacturing whatever their customer specs
..L.T.A.
Supporter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,713
Likes: 647
From: San Ramon, Ca
I doubt anyone can provide you a company because I doubt there is one.
US manufacturing has been on the steady decline since the 80's which is when Walmart took off and Americans traded US manufacturing jobs for cheap goods.
Most think the reason Walmart exist as it is today is due to US manufacturing being shut down and sent overseas.
Pres. Trump is the first President in 40 years to push back on overseas manufacturing but faced an uphill battle due to people want to buy American until they see what buying American cost.
I bought a 55" TV recently for $289, of course it was made in China.
Compare that to a 19" TV I bought from Sears back in 1983 that I paid $400 but it was manufactured I believe in the US by Zenith.
South Park did skit a few years ago where the kids searched out the heart of Walmart to kill it.
They found it in the TV Dept. behind a door.
When they opened the door what they found was telling.
Here's a link to the skit.
https://southpark.cc.com/video-clips...-mart-implodes
US manufacturing has been on the steady decline since the 80's which is when Walmart took off and Americans traded US manufacturing jobs for cheap goods.
Most think the reason Walmart exist as it is today is due to US manufacturing being shut down and sent overseas.
Pres. Trump is the first President in 40 years to push back on overseas manufacturing but faced an uphill battle due to people want to buy American until they see what buying American cost.
I bought a 55" TV recently for $289, of course it was made in China.
Compare that to a 19" TV I bought from Sears back in 1983 that I paid $400 but it was manufactured I believe in the US by Zenith.
South Park did skit a few years ago where the kids searched out the heart of Walmart to kill it.
They found it in the TV Dept. behind a door.
When they opened the door what they found was telling.
Here's a link to the skit.
https://southpark.cc.com/video-clips...-mart-implodes
Company to make a TV
I have worked in a GM Parts dept for a
long time (TOO LONG)
I would say that maybe 5% of the parts
have Made in USA on them.
its been that way for a very long time.
its too expensive to mnfg here. EPA laws,
union greed. Lots of factors.
Harleys have had Japanese parts on them
since the 70s.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,888
Likes: 1,902
From: East Coast, USA
Not gonna get into the whole trade between countries thing as this is not intended to be a political thread theres another section for that. Sticking to the frustrations of trying to customize a Harley using the very limited American parts to make a sick looking bike!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,708
Likes: 17,550
From: Driftless Area
We were stamping and welding cable guides for H-D until they went TBW.
At least three of my friends are toolmakers, and will make there own parts. One of them put a '39 Knuckle back on the road that way.
Another one made the bushings for the cams he wanted to use in his Twinkie. He also made oil coolers.
At least three of my friends are toolmakers, and will make there own parts. One of them put a '39 Knuckle back on the road that way.
Another one made the bushings for the cams he wanted to use in his Twinkie. He also made oil coolers.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 414
Likes: 400
From: Central Arkansas
The responsibility for the flight of manufacturing outside our borders rests with the American consumer. We, the consumer demand and get higher wages to improve our standard of living. Our employers raise to cost of their goods to compensate. At the same time the American consumer wants to stretch their dollars so they buy the least expensive thing that will meet their needs. Unfortunately American companies cannot compete on price. In turn the manufacturer outsources their production to a less expensive labor source. American manufacturing jobs disappear as a result and so do American produced goods.
In short our demand for high wages and low prices drive manufacturing overseas and play a big role in the loss of jobs and American made goods.
In short our demand for high wages and low prices drive manufacturing overseas and play a big role in the loss of jobs and American made goods.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
then there is the whole, 'is it really a custom bike if it just has a bunch of bolt ons added to it?' some don't consider it a custom if the parts used are mass produced and not made one off...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
2 pages of made in America suggestions including a whopper with baddad.com and Ricky2guns is nowhere to be found.
Lets not forget the HD forums sponsors either. Capt Itch makes custom parts in Tennessee.
carl
Lets not forget the HD forums sponsors either. Capt Itch makes custom parts in Tennessee.
carl
