Will:
Do you have any specific technical problems with the bearings either
included in either the QH kit, or the individual bearings supplied. A
statement that they are 'Jap Crap' bearings is hardly something I can take
to our tech dept.
If you have a specific quality issue, then I and I'm sure the rest
of the list are interested. If you want to badmouth a vendor, or myself for
attempting to correctly represent products then I am quite ready to take the
heat without resorting to subtle inuendo.
Yes, Ed did contact me directly by e-mail. I then checked sourcing
on the individual parts while explaining the problems Moss had had with
mislabeled origin products. Moss had to pay heavy customs penalties a few
years ago because a major supplier of bearing kits put "made in UK" labels
on kits which contained Japanese sourced bearings that were covered by an
importation embargo. At that time our importation of anything with the word
bearing in it became subject to major delays and paperwork. At one point we
had a shipment of engine bearings delayed, as they obviously didn't know the
difference.
Per Ed's request, I checked sourcing in the computer. Both MGB
bearings have only been purchased from either Timken or FAG, both US
companies.
On that reliance he made the purchase. There is no where in our
ordering system that "SPECIFICALLY "NO ASIAN crap" is going to cause a
Salesperson, to walk out into the warehouse and check the country of origin
on a couple of sets of bearings. The salesperson did ask me about the
e-mail I sent, and I told him that both parts were supplied by US companies.
Today I went into the warehouse and checked the bearings in the bin
boxes. One set is FAG boxed, made in Korea the other set has mixed stock
of: FAG made in Korea and SKF made in Mexico.
Non of the bearings are "JAP", but I doubt if this subtle difference
will make you feel better.
I too appreciate some of what Ed is trying to achieve. But his
intolerance and manner of presentation do nothing to help solve the real
problems that face British Car Owners today.
Keeping an available supply of correct parts for the cars is a very
daunting task. This does require relying on the quality control of major
suppliers such as The Timken Corporation and FAG Bearing Corporation.
Perhaps Ed has the time to pursue specific country of origin products, but
to keep the many British cars on the road there has to be a flood of parts
from all over the world. Our job is to make sure the parts fit and are of
good quality. Sometimes we don't do a good job, and that's when we need
specifics to do better. Ed's gallery of products comes across as pointing
out how smart Ed is, but does nothing to improve quality. Timely
information about specific problems, with documentation is the only way to
track down and attempt to improve matters.
In closing. I personally apologise to you for not taking the time to check
the products on the shelf. I admit that my initial angry reaction to Ed's
apparent intolerance did not do anything to make me get off my butt and make
a physical check.
I do however stand by my statement that all of the MGB bearing kits and
bearings currently on the market are of good quality. I don't personally
believe quality has anything to do with country of origin.
regards
Kelvin Dodd.
>
> <<AFAIA all of the pre-packaged bearing kits on the market are of good
> quality. >>
>
> Not the ones Moss sells with the "Jap Crap" bearings!!
>
> Ed is a neighbor and I am a customer. He just got in a QH
> Kit for MGB.
> Inner bearings = Jap. Outer = USA Timken.???
>
> He RE-ordered stating SPECIFICALLY "NO ASIAN crap" AFTER
> having an e-mail
> with you about "supplier" of individual parts instead of
> "kits" (he showed
> me) which you advised where American (not including seal
> which was UK).
>
> WHAT did he get you may ask?? BOTH sets of bearings = JAP!!!
>
> Yes, they were for MY car. And I appreciate what Ed strives
> to achieve in
> getting CORRECT (or next to) parts for not only my car but
> the rest of his
> customers!!
>
> Crass, at times, he can be; BUT he no speaketh with fork
> tongue (unlike some
> others I can think of)!!
>
> Regards...............
>
> Will
>
> PS:
>
> Pics will be up on his site soon (I hope)!
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