Magnesium and American saws

[WoodTick007]

Old Betsy

214,000 highway miles?

I don't think Ole Betsy would be so dependable if she was used as a "work truck". Nothing personal, but lets load her up and then tow the Max capacity for those 214,000 mile and she how trouble free she is.

If there is one thing the american auto industry can produce, its light duty trucks. If imported trucks were even close in durability to US produced light trucks, you would see them used in Commercial Service Applications.

I am not saying that the US Auto Makers don't make some total SH!#, because they do!!! Its just not in the light truck lines. If you were to show me a pick of a Lexus, Mitsibusihi, Toyota Car, Honda......... I would say hands down they build a higher quality auto.

 

[NevadaWalrus]

Personally I'll never own a front driver. What I wonder is how long it will take the "Big Three" to wake up and realize why one third of their new sales are SUV's. My opinion is its because they are still rear driven V-8's. Very little else is offered that way.

 

[Bremen]

I dunno I sure had fun the other day skidding logs out of the woods with my '94 Nissan Hardbody. Only 187K so it's young yet...

It's no fullsize, nor was it meant to be, but it'll do it's share of work.

Toyota and Nissan both have a history of selling tough work trucks down in Australia, which were never available in the states.

 

[bwalker]

there is one thing the american auto industry can produce, its light duty trucks. If imported trucks were even close in durability to US produced light trucks, you would see them used in Commercial Service Applications.

The reason you do not see many jap trucks in comercial use is because they do not make a true full size 3/4 and 1 ton truck like the big three do. The rest of the world does not have a need for big trucks that Americans prefer. BTW doubt the toughness of a Toyota. look at what the Taliban drove. If you go to the most rugged remote parts of the world you will see Toyota "Hi-Lux" trucks and little else.

 

[z4lunch]

Woodtickk 009
Steve here... My wife will be wrecked if she finds out you were ripping on 'ol Betsy...She had her fair share of off road use in her younger days, and still hauls fire wood most weekends. I drive her mostly in the winter, and switch off in the summer with my Celica, and C4cab

 

[powerequipman]

It's easy to tell where a Stihl product is built. Look at the first digit of the serial number.

1 means built in Germany
2 means built in USA
3 means built in Brazil
5 used to mean Australia (now closed)

Be aware that almost all of the bars are built in Germany and say so on the bar until the paint wears off which kind of confuses the issue when you are looking at a saw.

Most of the product sold in the USA is USA or German built. Once in a while you might see a piece of industrial gear like the TS 760 chop saw with a "3" built in Brazil serial number.

By the way the Stihl Mexico web site shows the 038 is sold there instead of the 044/MS440 or the 046/MS460. I guess that the 038 is built in Brazil now.

 

[eyolf]

There's something we're dancing around with but refusing to really take home.

We have the know-how to make anything, and the ability to make it better than anyone. But we want it dirt cheap, right now. Oh, yeah, while we're making it, we want pretty darn good wages.

I am very afraid that we are headed for a hard fall here in N. America. Especially here in the U.S.

 

[Mike mandry]

Originally posted by eyolf
There's something we're dancing around with but refusing to really take home.

We have the know-how to make anything, and the ability to make it better than anyone. But we want it dirt cheap, right now. Oh, yeah, while we're making it, we want pretty darn good wages.

I am very afraid that we are headed for a hard fall here in N. America. Especially here in the U.S.

You got that right. Sad, but true.

 

[Bill G]

Originally posted by DirtTroll
My Toyota truck has 280K with no work yet other than a new starter. It's almost where i'm going to have to replace the front break pads though.

178,000 on the original front brake pads ? I do not think so. Rear pads/shoes will last quite a bit longer but even then none will go 178,000 unless it was driven basically non stop.

Bill

 

[Mike mandry]

Bill,

A good friend of mine has an 89 Toyota celica.

Bought it new.

It now has 285k & runs like a new one.
It still has the original clutch & the motor has never been touched.
He got over 150K on the orig front brakes.

I have a 92 corolla that I got 110K out of the front pads

Now has 155K & the rear are about 50%

Dont get me wrong, I like american cars (and own 2 of them) but I also have 2 Toyotas & they simply amaze me

Mike

 

[Bill G]

I just checked the saws here in the living room. Both the 046 and 084 are "1" so Germany. The (2) 021's are US. I forgot to check the 038M, 009, and 015. Anyone want to guess where the 550 and SXL-925 Homelites were made. My wife got a little mad this week so I had to take about 15 more of the saws out to the shop and it is too da"" cold to check them now. The 50 or so saws in the barn are are old magnesium so I assume most were made here in the US.

Bill

 

[Bill G]

Mike,

Where was the 89 and 92 Toyota made ? Anyone had a Saturn that developed problems before a quarter million miles or so. I do not know as I have never owned either a Toyota or a Saturn just asking questions.

Bill

 

[Gypo Logger]

I think the AMC Pacer was the best car ever made. With it's upside down goldfish bowl style, it was a real winner.
John

 

[Bill G]

John,

I bet the Pacer makes a great sled when it is upside down.

Bill

 

[Dennis]

Zypo....are you snorting magnesium dust again?? I thought you went to meetings for that.

 

[dozerdan]

Pacer

John
I worked on the Pacer's when they were new.
They did have a few nice designs but unfortunately beauty wasn't one of them. It was the first car to use the cab forward design, had a built in roll cage in the roof. The passenger side door was longer then the drivers side, it gave more room for entering the rear seat.
They also produced the Pacer X, a few had the 304 V8 engines. They had the wonderful combination of ugly and fast.
Later
Dan

 

[DirtTroll]

Bill G:

I just replaced my front original brake pads on my 5 speed toyota truck last weekend. 282,000 miles on the original front pads. Rear still have alot of life left. Almost all miles were from stop and go traffic (very little highway miles) and the only other item on the truck that has been replaced is the starter and clutch.

Like I stated american cars are crap and can't even come close to compete. People let pride get in the way and don't realize that the USA has slide way downhil in the manufacturing sector.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Dan, so what your saying is that it had to be declared at the border?
John

 

[z4lunch]

92 toyota 4X4

Quote: Rear pads/shoes will last quite a bit longer but even then none will go 178,000 unless it was driven basically non stop.

Steve here... I have 214000 on my rear brakes. all original and no issues. I'm on my 3rd set of fronts

 

[mbopp]

"They also produced the Pacer X, a few had the 304 V8 engines."

Dan, I had a Gremlin 304, 4-bbl, cam, heads off a 390, headers, & 4:11 gears. That car could scoot! A friend had a re-engined 401 Hornet, another street sleeper.