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Old 11-04-2011, 10:40 PM
E Z MUNNY E Z MUNNY is offline
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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Default Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?

Sometime in the early to mid 70's my then-wife and I took a tour through the old Harley Davidson assembly plant in Milwaukee. It was the most amazing place I had ever seen. A chain-type conveyor suspended from the ceiling would move over the work areas and it kind of looked like the assembler would take off an engine or a frame hanging from a hook on this chain as they were needed. Eventually somebody would end up with a completed motorcycle and off to the testing room it would go. An 'experienced' tester would fiddle with the engine until it eventually started running at which time the rear wheel was put on a couple of rollers in the floor (with the rider on the bike) and crank it up until it was doing about 60 mph while sitting still. The engine assembly area was filled with crates of rejected castings and I was always amazed that they ran at all after seeing all of this.

We happily got back on our BMW and rode home.

Things certainly have changed for Harley, haven't they.
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Old 11-04-2011, 11:27 PM
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oldafsp oldafsp is offline
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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Yes they certainly have..

Love my 2005 Road King.
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Old 11-04-2011, 11:40 PM
feralmerril feralmerril is offline
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My dad and I toured the factory at tomahawk wisconsin about 15 years ago. Think they built the fiberglass stuff and sidecars there.
I had a uncle that was head of accounting or something back in the 1920s and probley due to him my grandpa worked there at the same time in the factory. My dad had a older half sister that died with her child with german measels and it was her husband that was the exect.
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Old 11-05-2011, 09:12 AM
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Iggy Iggy is offline
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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Yup, I went through it with as a member of a motorcycle equipment safety committee. We were establishing national safety standards for motorcycles.

I remember the guy test running the bikes on the rollers, but what impressed me was the big moose that shaped the handle bars in a jig with just brute strength.
He would lock the bar in a clamp and bend the tube to fit in a slot in the jig, then do the other side. Move it and bend some more until he had a properly shaped set of handle bars.

We had a minimum of 200# pressure to bend a handle bar tube and this guy did it all day without breaking a sweat.
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Old 11-05-2011, 10:04 AM
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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Quote:
this guy did it all day without breaking a sweat.
That is not the dude to get into a barroom arguement with !
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Old 11-05-2011, 10:08 AM
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cornchucker cornchucker is offline
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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Many changes since then and technology is advancing rapidly since I got my first Harley in 1953. Loved that Panhead and still enjoying being on two wheels on my '10 Road King.
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Old 11-05-2011, 10:38 AM
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ridewv ridewv is offline
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E Z MUNNY View Post
We happily got back on our BMW and rode home.

Things certainly have changed for Harley, haven't they.
Yes they have. Starting with the 1982 or 1983 models their quality really improved. I enjoy riding my BMW's and Harley's equally. Each offers a very different approach to what a motorcycle should be.
The newer Harleys run well and have Brembo brakes, with ABS as an option on many. They use belt drive which requires no oiling, almost never needs adjusted, and lasts far longer than chains (and some BMW driveshafts, unfortunately) Where others use plastic HD still uses steel. HD's fit and finish is outstanding, the quality of their paint and chrome is every bit the equal of Mercedes.
But I would have loved to go through their factory back when you did!
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Old 11-05-2011, 10:57 AM
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Frank237 Frank237 is offline
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Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw? Anybody ever visit the old H-D factory in Milw?  
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I've had three new HD's from the 90's to a 2003...ALL three of them had fit and finish that was flawless. I doubt ANY other vehicle manufacturer does PAINT as well as HD.

Passions run high BOTH ways with HD's... but their standards for fit and finish are top end.


FN in MT
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