Today's Find

[Wrenchmensch]

Here is a very shiny 7-inch Harley Davidson wrench with 4 hex fittings, one of which is a metric 10mm size. Is Harley using foreign parts now?

[rusty]

They use a mishmash of metric and SAE parts. Good intentions to switch to the metric system, poor follow through...

Also torx, phillips, slotted.....bring a large toolkit ;P

[bonneyman]

H-D's were using Japanese Carbs (Mikuni??) back in the 80's if I remember right. They had better ratio regulation, were 1/2" narrower for a tighter fit, and cost less than the previous USA carb.

[johnsironsanctuary]

Also back in the eighties, HD took a serious run at converting to metric standards.  The push was solid enough that drawings were hard Metric and soft Imperial dimensions. It fizzled out when they started to look at how much it would cost to build all Metric guaging, buy all new QC tools and, at that time, Metric steel sizes were difficult to come by.  Today, the bikes are still a mixed bag with Shiowa (spelling?) forks, Japanese electronics and Nissin Kogyo brake calipers.

[Papaw]

Been 23 years since I was Service Manager at a Harley dealer, but that wrench is not familiar to me. H D has been sourcing parts and accessories from overseas since the Seventies, As mentioned- forks, carbs, and also electrics, bearings, seals, pistons, rings, and much more. These parts are part of what saved H D from going out of business.

[rusty]

NB: one of the forums notes that the 10mm fits the battery terminal bolts....
(Just what you want across the top the battery, a long steel wrench ;P)