japan vs. china

[Mountainman]

I am thinking back to when working as an equip tec - there was some really good sandpaper that we had been using for many years - cost was around 50 dollars a roll - when we went to get a new roll one day - something was wrong - the city had went with what they called - the low bid - yes, they bought some blue sandpaper alright - but - it was not the old made in US that we had been using - it now said made in China - at the most it was only 25 % efficient - cost was half of quality sandpaper - lose 3/4 to save a 1/2 -- I don't see a savings there.

My buddy bought an HT before I had my MB - I rode it for a little while one day - saw nothing wrong with the performance - when buying my engine though - I just wanted something made in Japan, Europe or maybe even the US.
Well with less that 100 miles on it - my friend sold that HT to another friend of ours - it's broken down today - elect problem - as seen a lot here..

I wish to Ride That Thing - Mountainman

 

[Alaskavan]

I run a Chinese clone of a Japanese engine on my trike. 3,000 miles and counting.

 

[arceeguy]

It is a little more complex than Japan-good, China-bad.

Many Chinese manufacturers have the ability to compete with Japanese and American manufacturers. The issue is economic, not some sort of inherent anything. The HT engines are manufactured to a certain price point were more advanced aluminum alloys and manufacturing standards are not economically viable.......
.....Japanese manufacturers used this exact marketing strategy 40 years ago. "Made in Japan", to many, used to mean "junk" and disposable cars and weak alloys and low quality.

That pretty much sums it up!

I remember in the 70's and 80's that everyone was worried about the trade deficit with Japan.

The "gas powered" products I own that are built in China include two portable generators, power mower, motorcycle and (of course) a couple of bicycle engines. The "happy times" engines are by far the lowest quality of the bunch, but they obviously do not represent all products from China.

I will give the HT engines credit where credit is due. The engine internals (cylinder bore, piston, rod, crank) are finished to a much higher standard than the overall finish of the engine. I can live with the casting flash on the cylinder cooling fins knowing that the bore is accurate, and is nicely honed and chrome plated for long life.

Most consumer grade power equipment has the piston wearing against a plain aluminum bore. (Briggs "Kool Bore", etc) My motorcycle has a cast iron cylinder, and the generators and lawn mower have cast iron cylinder sleeves.
No doubt here that Chinese manufacturers are capable of producing quality products at an affordable price!

 

[fetor56]

Pay 2X as much and get 10X better.

 

[arceeguy]

Pay 2X as much and get 10X better.

You can keep telling yourself that, and keep paying twice as much while the rest of us enjoy our products made in China, Korea, Thailand, India or wherever.

I wouldn't have been able to afford a 5KW portable generator if it wasn't imported. It always starts within two pulls and is very quiet.

The lawn mower was $129 and has an overhead valve 6.5 engine. It is very quiet and starts easily. It is a clone of a Honda GXV commercial engine. For the same money, I could have gotten a cr@p mower with a noisy and antiquated L-Head Briggs and Stratton engine (aluminum bore) or spent twice as much to get a mower with a genuine Honda engine - but a consumer grade OHC engine. (Once again, aluminum bore and the timing belt is swimming in crankcase oil - huh?) I'd rather have the Chinese built clone w/cast iron bore. It'll be running long after the deck rots away.

When buying anything, you have to be careful, as Mountainman has pointed out. Because sometimes less expensive ends up costing you more.

 

[fetor56]

@erceeguy
Paying twice as much doesn't necessarily mean u need to go to another country....paying twice as much means u get the best possible version of what that country has to offer.
MOST if the problems i've seen here are from ppl who buy the cheapest kit possible then have nothing but problems.......it's made too cheap.
Cheap is inherently nasty. :yuck:

 

[fetor56]

PS...i much prefer Japan from China but don't get me wrong...the Chinese DO make some good stuff(provided it's built up to a standard & not down to a price)

 

[astring]

just a side note, you can pick up R/S engines on gopeds on craigslist. Make a low ball offer you may be surprised (they just want to get rid of those after getting hurt).

 

[jlebh1]

paying twice as much doesn't mean twice as good some sellers mark up there kits heaps. a good seller in australia of the happy time engines is Zbox its $300AUD for an 80cc kit its great quality and the service is fantastic.

 

[jlebh1]

(delivered)