Draglink end

[i.thomson@talk21.com]

While I accept that the harsh realities of the commercial world dictate the truth of what you say Joe; the specialists who supply what is in fact the wrong part are surely under an obligation to admit this. Some specialists make it clear in their catalogues the distinction between original parts, remanufactured parts and those which will do the job while not being originally intended for their present use - but others don't! I personally would even require_any_departure from original spec to be admitted so that I have the chance to make an informed decision to buy before being faced with a fait accompli on opening the parcel. In particular the use of non original threads in reproduction items annoys me. It cannot surely put the price up by that much to use BSF/BSW threads. This is not simply an originality issue. Other threads patterns may perfectly good for the job but at the very least it leaves me with the decision of how to remind myself (or some later owner)that this bolt/nut is different. In addition in some applications the use of a wrong thread may have safety implications - which may not become apparent until someone (possibly myself) replaces the nut/bolt with a BSF/W one some time in the future. The factors large liability policy may well defend them but it will not help me when my steering gives way. BTW I am interested in you handbrake rechrome kit joe, could you let me have details. Ian Thomson -----------

> Charles while I am not defending suppliers who sell inferior or wrong parts >sometimes there is a method to the madness. The popularity of a part is a >factor, if you are going to sell 100 pieces of a drag link per year (highly >doubtful) and there is a Tie rod end that will directly replace it from a >manufacturer who also has a large liability policy, (lets not forget >steering=lawyers= law suits) than maybe that is the way it is going to go, >also I have rebuilt drag links as did you from the scrap box thus diminishing >the total sales. > > I sell a nice hand brake rechrome kit for our cars and I have made 100 >pieces, in the last 4 years that I have had them I have probably sold 15 >kits, not even enough to be low bank interest let alone a return on >investment, so a large supplier has to look at movement of an item and decide >if it is worth it to tie up money, space, time spent inventorying the item. > > I am in the process of having some seamingly insignificent snap rings >that go into carburetors made, they look like nothing but yet the cost of a >die is 2000.00 and I need 2 of them and then once that is made the piece is >to cost 28 cent each and I have to buy 5000 each to get that price, this item >only fits one SU for only a few years and if you saw the original part you >would say it is worth 10 cent tops instead of the .68 cent that they >realley cost, well I am going to make 2000 on a screw machine which will make >it look different the function will be the same, and at least I can supply a >respectable part to my customers who need them. > > I guess what I am saying is that small operaters such as myself, and >all the other guys who run a "Boutique" operation are left to make some of >the more interesting and inovative parts, because they have the skill, or >contacts and are willing to invest in a product and have it sit around for a >long time so that we can service our customers. > >Joe Curto

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[joecurto@aol.com]

Ian good point, I too like to keep my British cars British, even down to the threads. Joe