Morris Minor Owners Club

lambrettalad wrote:I've got snap on tools from the 70's ,abfab tools

Their trolley jacks are made in China now.

les wrote:

lambrettalad wrote:I've got snap on tools from the 70's ,abfab tools

Their trolley jacks are made in China now.

True, but your implying this automatically makes them worse???

My standard torque procedure is to tighten as far as I am able, then go another quarter turn...

Which is fine if using a ring key - no so good if using a long extension bar on a socket T bar..........

Alex'n'Ane wrote:

les wrote:

lambrettalad wrote:I've got snap on tools from the 70's ,abfab tools

Their trolley jacks are made in China now.

True, but your implying this automatically makes them worse???

I'm very pleased with the quality, it just surprised me but as everything else is made there,--- perhaps it shouldn't have!

Oh dear I've sparked a debate. (my tuppence)

I work a lot with Chinese suppliers, I have worked with mass market (people like B&Q) and now I'm working with more 'high end' companies. You have to understand that the Chinese have had a society of make do and mend and for the most part see nothing wrong with lower quality. To get good quality from China as with any other country you just have to control it. Including the quality of the material coming into the factory. The Chinese can make some good quality products, you just have to pay for it and you have to keep a close eye. You can also get bad quality products made in Europe, people all over the world are willing to cut corners to make that little bit of extra margin ;-)

Snap on probably have very good quality control excellent drawings and specification that the factory can be measured by, they probably have someone at the factory door checking the material coming in and then picking parts off the production line checking for tolerance. They probably get a lot of rejects and annoy their supplier who will put the prices up to cover the cost of the rejects, but with the cost of their goods this shouldn't be a problem. Or they just go to a half decent supplier and buy from them and put a huge mark up on it, depends how cynical you are. ;-) I would like to think the former.

http://www.classicsiliconehoses.com/

I have looked at their website as I will be replacing the hoses at the end of the year, and the picture for the Minor shows a straight hose for the top one. Is that what they supply? Does it fit without removing the thermostat housing? At £54 I think I will stick with 'standard' hoses and change them occasionally.

The existing hoses are at least 5 years old and are Kevlar, which have caused no problems at all - so just a bit of preventative maintenance!

My experience of Chinese suppliers is exactly the same as 'little_pete', control the inputs, control the processes, monitor the outputs and you will get exactly the level of quality you have defined to the supplier.

Lets hope they start making spares for Minors then!

I'm surprised your kevlar hoses have lasted so long Richard - they tend to get bad press!

les wrote:Lets hope they start making spares for Minors then!