POOR QUALITY PARTS

<span style="font-weight: bold">You can see the complete thread over in the Triumph section</span>




I must admit that I am very surprised. Either I have lost touch with reality since my recent retirement or you folks enjoy being ripped off!

As someone once said, YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A BUNCH OF SHEEPLE!!! jester

OK, I now realize how one of these inferior drain taps can be repaired. And, I appreciate the expert input by Randall and others. However, why should we tolerate parts that require us to finish them in order for them to function???

As a society, we have been lulled into believing that this sort of nonsense is proper and acceptable. It's pervasive and I have experienced this quality issue in many aspects of my life in recent years. However today let's focus on this recent experience regarding these taps

All three suppliers, Moss, TRF and VB buy this part from the same supplier. They sell it for approx. $20. My insight into the business tells me that they probably pay less than $5 each for them. It's function is to turn off and on the flow of coolant. When it is turned off (closed) nothing is supposed to come out. When it is open, at least a trickle is supposed to come out. Strictly a binary function!

We ended up buying five of these, initially two from one supplier. Then we ordered three more, one from each of big three. Total cost - approx. $112. The shop installed these in the two locations for a labor cost of approx. (0.5 hrs x $60/hr) $30. This operation was done two more times for a cost of approx. $40.

Then when we realized that all five valves leaked, we took two of them apart and soldered plugs into the bodies. Thus the taps look correct but they are not functional. This extra work took approx. 1 hour @ $60.

Total cost of taps 5 x $20 + s&h = $112.
Total labor R&R taps 70.
Total labor solder plugs 60.
-------
Grand total $242.

So, I ask you why do we put up with this???

Conclusion: Nobody gives a Rats!

During the past eight years this exercise has been repeated many , many times during various operations. I only wonder how much extra $$$ I have spent because of poor quality parts.

OH WELL, IT'S ONLY MONEY! crazyeyes bawl wall

P.S. Now that I have a bit more of free time, I am considering forming a watchdog group. The purpose of this group will be to advise LBC enthusiasts about parts and service quality issues. If you are interested in participating send me a pm.

This is NOT to defend shoddy workmanship or poor quality parts, but: a decade ago there were things we couldn't get at all. I hate what we sometimes find in the 'white boxes' but hate even more that I couldn't GET some parts. It has become S.O.P. to do Q.C. on anything coming from other than OEM (even that can be a crap shoot, tho) or NOS. It may be of value to have a heads-up as to what bits are FUBAR outta the box, with a "fix" or two to accompany. This tap is a perfect example.

The stuff is made in some third world back yard "foundry", the makers haven't a CLUE what they're making or what it's for. Nevermind a quality assurance "department". Seems that has been relegated to our end of this supply chain. Admittedly bass-ackwards but if that's all there is, it's grudgingly acceptable. Too many middlemen, no info gets back to the parts manufacturers. One or two: "If you can't make it right, mebbe your neighbor can!" statements at the first stage in the process might be in order. I don't see that happening.

Yes, it's costly. Yes, it wastes time. Will it change? Not unless there's some competitive reason to do so. And (tho simplistic math) by my calculus the taps ended up costing close to $50 each, still non-functional. $20 MSRP. Adding QC in the process MAY yield one which would work, and likely add a reason to justify the $30 difference in the end... Conclusion: I'd lap the thing instead.

And you're right, Frank. shoddy goods and services have become the norm. Addressing it is problematic, it's endemic. If we start now it will take two generations to change it, IMO. I'll make lemonade instead. Please pass th' lapping compound.

:wink:

I agree with the QC issues on parts that we are getting for our cars. Once could say that since they quit making (real) MGs and Triumphs some years ago, the market for parts is quickly shrinking, thus less and less demand for parts.

I have had the same issues that you guys describe above, and there is nothing I hate more than having to take a brand new part and fix it before I can put it on my car. I have had this issue not only with my MG, but with my 94 Cougar.

Frustrating, I know, but is there really anything that can be done about it? I think that if someone decided to produce parts that we need with the quality we demand, I think the parts would be very expensive, since they would probably be a low production, thus high cost per unit to produce.

I am starting to ramble, so I'll stop here..

Here's the deal....our large suppliers pay big bucks each year for R&D to produce new products for our cars...then, they try to get the best price they can to have all their products manufactured...& they have quality thresholds for that manufacture....they spot check items from every order they receive but there's no way they can look at each tiny item that arrives from the manufacturer......so, some bad items are gonna slide through; no dodging it, unless:

WE WANT TO PAY MORE FOR OUR PARTS!

& its a proven that the majority of LBC owners want their parts as inexpensively as possible....you want perfection everytime, I've got a supplier who sends me exactly that for my cars - hand picked items off the shelf that never have to be returned.....but, I PAY for it! You want the same, I can get it for you....but, you'll PAY much more than you do now!

I'm finding the same problem with Corvette parts! I've ordered the same sway bar bushings 3 times from different supplers & have still not gotten a good set I can use.

Yelling about bad parts on the internet does nothing except make you feel good....it doesn't correct the problem...when I do come across a bad part, I immediately notify the supplier....& they all have historical data about bad parts....if I start the file, that's good....if I add to the file, that's better.....they take the feedback we give them & go back to the manufacturer to try & correct the problem.

Yelling here & not taking it up with the suppliers is really a waste of time....why? Because I've not gotten a bad drain tap from one of my suppliers yet...& I sell lots of parts annually!

I will go to the supplier or reseller with info about something of less-than-acceptable manufacture. I know if they have no feedback they can't address the issue.

My point was that I'll take whatever bit and rework it if possible so I *HAVE* it, as opposed to the circumstance of a decade or so ago when you had *no* availability on many of these things. Early Jag E-Type front turn indicator lenses/bezels come to mind. "Unobtanium" a decade ago.

If I have to rework a part, I'll do it, Doc....after the manufacturer has told me he doesn't need it back for examination....there have been times when a supplier paid for me to return a bad part just so they would know what to look for in the others on the shelf & to show to their manufacturer.

I agree with you Tony and Doc, I'll take the time to rework a part if it isn't up to standard as long as a better one isn't available. Of course we have to acknowledge the fact that some folks don't have the knowledge or tools to do that. I also agree that if you want an original quality part, in most cases it can be found, but your going to pay to the nose for it. Oh well, that's the old supply and demand thing, such is life. I don't know what the story is about the drain taps, but I can go to our local auto parts store and buy them, all brass, different sizes even, as some farm tractors have a larger drain,(a lot of farm equipment around here), and they seem to be of good quality. I put a new drain on the motor home 2 years ago and it has never leaked. Put a new one on the 72 B in 06 and it has never leaked. What can I say.

tony barnhill said:

...its a proven that the majority of LBC owners want their parts as inexpensively as possible....

Yelling about bad parts on the internet does nothing except make you feel good....it doesn't correct the problem...when I do come across a bad part, I immediately notify the supplier....& they all have historical data about bad parts....if I start the file, that's good....if I add to the file, that's better.....they take the feedback we give them & go back to the manufacturer to try & correct the problem.

Yelling here & not taking it up with the suppliers is really a waste of time....why? Because I've not gotten a bad drain tap from one of my suppliers yet...& I sell lots of parts annually!

Click to expand...

I guess I'm in the minority because I want a good quality part at a fair price, not cheap parts and cheap price.

Tony is right, you can still buy good quality parts, but the cost more. Such as the original heater valves for the MGB, which is still available but more money, but well worth it.

There's nothing wrong with telling other about the poor quality part, but you must tell the supplier as well; they want to know, and they are the only ones you have a chance of improving the quality of the parts we buy.

tony barnhill said:

....they take the feedback we give them & go back to the manufacturer to try & correct the problem.

Click to expand...

Yes, it is true that the manufacturer's "can't fix it if they don't know it's broke" so we should give feedback about inferior parts, service, etc.

<span style="font-weight: bold">AND</span> It's equally important to give positive feedback. How often do the majority of us take the time to send a note, email, phonecall, etc. when we get a good part, service, etc?? It's a two way street after all.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]& its a proven that the majority of LBC owners want their parts as inexpensively as possible....[/QUOTE]

Well, I guess I'm in a minority:

One reason I use specialist suppliers is because I expect them to provide a higher quality part, and I generally pay for that in their higher prices.

I've also found that if I buy a fair amount from suppliers that too increases their interest in keeping me happy.

Even then I sometimes find that there are shortcomings in what's sold, but I usually find they're more willing to discuss the issues and remedy defects or replace parts.