Hi all,
I had a pulley come loose on a long ride, and the cover got scratched up.
So.. I ordered another pulley cover, bolts, and washers from a local Harley dealer who (after a couple of attempts) got me the right parts.
I sat on the parts until it was convenient for me to do the repair.
A number of months later, I fitted the pulley cover.
The chrome on the bolts and washers was noticeably thinner than the ones they were replacing... to the extent that I polished them hoping to make them appear good quality.
No luck, they still looked like Chinese chrome.
I had to use them but I'm pissed off.
The bolts I replaced were from a dealer in the states,
The new parts were from a dealer in Australia.
Does anyone know if the quality of Harley parts is declining? I've been 100% genuine when I buy parts as I was concerned with quality, however maybe I should be looking around?
Thanks
Pauly
Parts suppliers like hardware can change like the wind, lowest bidder generally supplies the goods. Anything a supplier can do to reduce the price of the parts and still pass the Moco's scrutiny gets put on the parts shelf. The chrome a little thin this time around, the supplier might not get the bid next time, who knows for sure? :idunno:
It is all about the $$$.
Thanks @poorub
Crazy - they are charging absolute premium quality prices for crap. This can't go on much longer before Harley looses us loyal customers.
Thanks
Pauly
QuoteThis can't go on much longer before Harley looses us loyal customers.
IMO they have gone past that (point of no return) already :SM:
pulley cover ?? I've removed a few and tossed them over the years, pain in the ask IMO :SM:
I use ARP 12 point bolts on my pulley the stainless always looks good unlike harley chrome "Potty mouth".
Hey fsg,
I get that but very pretty.
Thanks
Pauly
Quote from: FSG on November 05, 2019, 11:16:06 PM
QuoteThis can't go on much longer before Harley looses us loyal customers.
IMO they have gone past that (point of no return) already :SM:
pulley cover ?? I've removed a few and tossed them over the years, pain in the ask IMO :SM:
Just a little 101 on the chrome thing. Most decorative chrome plating is a three layer process; copper, nickel and chromium. The chrome layer has to be thin enough so the nickel shows through, and I was told years ago it was on the order of 0.17 mil. Most paint coats are a mil or more in thickness (a mil is 1/1000 inch bty). If chrome is too thick to be transparent, it won't be shiny. Another thing, years ago Harley advertised in their P&A catalog they used hexavalent chrome, which is super toxic, especially to breathe. Most folks have stopped using that and gone to slightly less toxic trivalent chrome, which some say is not quite as durable. FWIW I have never been very impressed with Harley chrome bolts. The latest bolts I used for my brake rotors were Colony and Gardner Westcott. Now that is good stuff.
I would agree since the M8 bike came out that some of the chrome/finish/hardware is not up to the same level as it was in the twin cam days.
Will it change? Only if the MOCO sees rising costs for warranty repairs on it.
One word.... CHINA Their Global Supply Chain has ruined Quality and Longevity since beginning in 2014. I used to see (as everyone did) Made in Mexico on the Electrical Parts. Now I see China, Pakistan, Turkey, UAW, and a few I can't even pronounce. If you haven't noticed, virtually none of their Motorcloths are USA either.
Quote from: TXCHOP on November 06, 2019, 04:45:54 AM
I would agree since the M8 bike came out that some of the chrome/finish/hardware is not up to the same level as it was in the twin cam days.
That's why they are pushing the "blacked out" look. Easier to powder coat than chrome.
Didn't Harly used to do their own chrome in-house?
:missed:
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
Quote from: Pirsch Fire Wagon on November 06, 2019, 05:25:44 PM
One word.... CHINA Their Global Supply Chain has ruined Quality and Longevity since beginning in 2014. I used to see (as everyone did) Made in Mexico on the Electrical Parts. Now I see China, Pakistan, Turkey, UAW, and a few I can't even pronounce. If you haven't noticed, virtually none of their Motorcloths are USA either.
Duluth Trading is a local clothing company that sells good quality clothes, and has a line of jeans called Ballroom jeans (comfortable in all the right areas). They offered their regular foreign made line, and an identical line made in the USA.
The jeans made in the USA were at least $20 more expensive. I'm not even sure if they offer them anymore.
Quote from: Pirsch Fire Wagon on November 06, 2019, 05:25:44 PMIf you haven't noticed, virtually none of their Motorcloths are USA either.
Harley Motorclothes T shirts, leather jackets, boots, gloves etc have not been made in the US for
at least 30 years.
I quit wearing Levi`s when they moved their production offshore, now I get jeans made in USA from here:
https://www.allamericanclothing.com/made-in-usa/jeans.html
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:54:59 PM
Quote from: Pirsch Fire Wagon on November 06, 2019, 05:25:44 PM
One word.... CHINA Their Global Supply Chain has ruined Quality and Longevity since beginning in 2014. I used to see (as everyone did) Made in Mexico on the Electrical Parts. Now I see China, Pakistan, Turkey, UAW, and a few I can't even pronounce. If you haven't noticed, virtually none of their Motorcloths are USA either.
Duluth Trading is a local clothing company that sells good quality clothes, and has a line of jeans called Ballroom jeans (comfortable in all the right areas). They offered their regular foreign made line, and an identical line made in the USA.
The jeans made in the USA were at least $20 more expensive. I'm not even sure if they offer them anymore.
Their tv commercials crack me up. Probably not cheap though.
Ron
That's not news... chrome is the most noticeable but the parts prices are so disproportionate to the quality that it is more noticeable. Go to swap meets and buy older stuff... including the motorcycle.
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
A couple years ago on a golf course, ran into a guy that does HD chroming about 1/2 hour from me. Town called Cambridge. He wouldn't get into details of course. Not sure if the company still does it or HD found a cheaper place to do it. Most likely non EPA regulated countries is where it seems to be heading. Lack of qc usually follows.
Ron
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
It's probably harder here. The days of sending a box full out for chrome in the Winter are pretty well gone. :emsad:
Quote from: fbn ent on November 07, 2019, 07:11:25 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
It's probably harder here.....
Stupid environment. "Chemicals hurt me." Grow up!
Different chrome parts are subcontracted out on a yearly basis. One contractor may do cam covers, another, air cleaners. Maybe this is why the push is on for the "blacked out" look, Frank
Quote from: rbabos on November 07, 2019, 06:58:16 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
A couple years ago on a golf course, ran into a guy that does HD chroming about 1/2 hour from me. Town called Cambridge. He wouldn't get into details of course. Not sure if the company still does it or HD found a cheaper place to do it. Most likely non EPA regulated countries is where it seems to be heading. Lack of qc usually follows.
Ron
Cambridge, ON? I've done a lot of work there at the Toyota plants.
The chrome look lost favor to the murdered out look, hence black exhaust and other parts. Think Night Train. The stock Harley blackout treatment was driven by the regular owners of Harleys that did it to their own bikes long before HD did it. Cheaper to paint it black rather than buy new chrome. Also, your dad liked chrome, and you can't be like your dad.
Same with the Street Glide, driven by owners modifying their Electraglides, Willy saw it, and thought, "Ah ha!"
Quote from: Hossamania on November 07, 2019, 07:25:23 AM
The stock Harley blackout treatment was driven by the regular owners of Harleys that did it to their own bikes long before HD did it.
Willy saw it, and thought, "Ah ha!"
Yep, that pretty much nails it.
[attach=0]
-JW
I just like to know why most of the aftermarket black parts cost more the chrome parts. Why does a black out bike cost more then a chrome bike now.
Because people will pay for it.
-JW
I guess people like getting screwed. People have to stop giving in.
Quote from: SixShooter14 on November 07, 2019, 07:24:02 AM
Quote from: rbabos on November 07, 2019, 06:58:16 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
A couple years ago on a golf course, ran into a guy that does HD chroming about 1/2 hour from me. Town called Cambridge. He wouldn't get into details of course. Not sure if the company still does it or HD found a cheaper place to do it. Most likely non EPA regulated countries is where it seems to be heading. Lack of qc usually follows.
Ron
Cambridge, ON? I've done a lot of work there at the Toyota plants.
Me too. Material handling racks, mostly. Cami, toyota, Vutech , and even Saturn in Tennessee . Mind you car companies have a way of turning a nice weld/machine shop into a "Potty mouth" hole once they get in and start the underbidding crap with other suppliers. Good at first, then not so much. Glad I retired from all of that.
Ron
Quote from: rbabos on November 07, 2019, 08:47:52 AM
Quote from: SixShooter14 on November 07, 2019, 07:24:02 AM
Quote from: rbabos on November 07, 2019, 06:58:16 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
A couple years ago on a golf course, ran into a guy that does HD chroming about 1/2 hour from me. Town called Cambridge. He wouldn't get into details of course. Not sure if the company still does it or HD found a cheaper place to do it. Most likely non EPA regulated countries is where it seems to be heading. Lack of qc usually follows.
Ron
Cambridge, ON? I've done a lot of work there at the Toyota plants.
Me too. Material handling racks, mostly. Cami, toyota, Vutech , and even Saturn in Tennessee . Mind you car companies have a way of turning a nice weld/machine shop into a "Potty mouth" hole once they get in and start the underbidding crap with other suppliers. Good at first, then not so much. Glad I retired from all of that.
Ron
Yup, I design the conveyor systems for all the major OEMs Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, GM, FCA.....They all want everything better, but done faster and cheaper at the same time.
I was in Cambridge just a few weeks ago. Luckily, it hadn't started snowing yet.
Quote from: SixShooter14 on November 07, 2019, 08:51:51 AM
Quote from: rbabos on November 07, 2019, 08:47:52 AM
Quote from: SixShooter14 on November 07, 2019, 07:24:02 AM
Quote from: rbabos on November 07, 2019, 06:58:16 AM
Quote from: Hossamania on November 06, 2019, 06:29:03 PM
It's hard to do good quality chrome in the USA, the EPA has pretty much killed the use of the best chemicals.
A couple years ago on a golf course, ran into a guy that does HD chroming about 1/2 hour from me. Town called Cambridge. He wouldn't get into details of course. Not sure if the company still does it or HD found a cheaper place to do it. Most likely non EPA regulated countries is where it seems to be heading. Lack of qc usually follows.
Ron
Cambridge, ON? I've done a lot of work there at the Toyota plants.
Me too. Material handling racks, mostly. Cami, toyota, Vutech , and even Saturn in Tennessee . Mind you car companies have a way of turning a nice weld/machine shop into a "Potty mouth" hole once they get in and start the underbidding crap with other suppliers. Good at first, then not so much. Glad I retired from all of that.
Ron
Yup, I design the conveyor systems for all the major OEMs Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, GM, FCA.....They all want everything better, but done faster and cheaper at the same time.
I was in Cambridge just a few weeks ago. Luckily, it hadn't started snowing yet.
Got a trace this morning but it's melted already. My riding season is over, so will do all the fluid swaps and prepare for next spring.
Ron
Quote from: BUGLET on November 07, 2019, 08:10:02 AM
I guess people like getting screwed. People have to stop giving in.
Bug, all of us'ns on this forum make a conscious decision to buy, ride, and modify Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Therefore, by definition, we absolutely love taking it up the corn hole, while screaming THANK YOU SIR, MAY I HAVE ANOTHER! What else can explain it? (Rhetorical question)
-JW
Deleted, not really on point.