POORLY MANUFACTURED PARTS

[Mike Wattam <101714.1343@domain.elided>]

I know most of the UK Stag Specialist parts suppliers well (and THEIR
suppliers!), and spend some time rattling away at them for quality and
other problems.  I would be quite happy (delighted) to co-ordinate and
liaise with suppliers, but my time is regrettably rather short at present
so my performance is not likely to be too responsive (a lot of interest/new
members in the Triumph Stag Register, is therefore taking up all my spare
time).  

So I suggest either appoint (volunter) somebody in the group as the
spokeseperson and co-ordinator of complaints (good idea Peter, you do it!)
or ALL send e-mails to those suppliers (copied to the digest) every time
you have a problem.  Address e-mails for personal attention of the guv'nor
in each business.

Whatever, we need to use the power of this forum, not waste it.  As Peter
suggests, a first letter to the suppliers informing them of the group and
it's power, could be a very good start.  

However, there is one real problem of which you all must be aware.  If you
inform the suppliers of the existence of the forum, then make a remark and
circulate it within the forum about a person or company which is not
patently and provably true (exaggeration falls into this category), you
stand a good chance of the supplier seeing it, thus incurring their wrath
and retaliatory action which might include sueing for libel ..........  So
this needs careful thought.  What could esily happen, is that the 'freedom
of expression' of the forum is curtailed/sanitised.  I for one would not be
in favour of that because the freedom of expression is what makes this
forum so interesting (and the people of course!).

BTW 1
 I am still strenuously battling with Unipart over the water pump problem
and hope to have some news for you very soon, good or bad.

BTW 2
I was the idiot responsible for sorting out all the problems with
non-reinforced hoses, several years ago in 'another car club'.  I am
staggered that anybody is still selling them and I am writing to the
supplier right now.  If anybody wants a copy of all the justification for
fitting reinforced hoses, let me know and I will oblige.  Suffice to say
that string you see in reinforced hoses is holding in up to 20psi at up to
240 Centigrade, successfully.  Non-reinforced hoses swell under this
pressure/temperature and can burst.  Look at your hoses, if you have
non-reinforced hoses you will probably see that your top hose has residual
swelling, even when cold.  Non-reinforced hoses also can be noticeably
thinner on the outside of curves, so have a good grope.  Be warned.

BTW 3
Is anybody not using the Unipart type oil filter with the integral metal
'seal' on the end plates?

Mike Wattam
Triumph Stag Register