Chip, how was China??

Paddy · Dec 10, 2006

Chip,

So if you don't mind..Can you tell us about your trip to China? I was in China a few weeks ago but not on tractor biz.

Patrick

SPIKER · Dec 10, 2006

paddy: I think chip may be there now or just going... not 100% sure but I think I saw a post from him saying he was going in a day or so this week so if that was the case he is probably still there or just arriving.

(hope he has some good news about new stuff

Mark M

bluechip · Dec 10, 2006

Am here now, two more factory tours. Today is one of the 5 factories that make teh LW series backhoes. maybe some JIC hydraulic fittings and better valves anyone? NO PROMISES, I haven't even been there yet! Another tractor factory this afternoon, then back to shanhai. Should be home in my own bed (Paddy, how do you like the chinese beds?) Wednsday. I will post a few pics but big announcements will have to wait...

SPIKER · Dec 10, 2006

Chip:

glad to hear ya got access to the net there. Yep a great supply of replacement fittings for those jic type fittings. perhaps a convert fitting from those to ase

anyhow sleep tight & watch out for those bed bugs

MarkM

bluechip · Dec 11, 2006

No bugs in the beds here. $50 gets a room in 4 star hotel. the beds are VERY firm with almost no padding. but after almost a week, I am used to it.
visited the backhoe factory today. JIC fittings are not available in China, but the factory we use has switched to the sealing type washers that we have been retrofitting as needed. We did make some headway on a smother valve. the valves we are using are parker valves, made here in china, but they do not have a taper spool so they are more or less ON or OFF as we all know. I have seen a wide spectrum of factories, from converted retail type storefronts to world class assembly plants like you would expect from a GM or Ford. It a hs been an amazing trip.

Paddy · Dec 11, 2006

Chip,

Yes, the beds have alot to be desired! I was in 6 hotels during my trip. All but the Shanghai hotel had about 2" of....?? straw? Rock hard compared to my water bed.

I had the same impression about the factories. Some are very modern and Hi tech, others are dark dirty tin boxes. I work in the ceramics world. The main city is LiLing? At the hotel, there was a add book the size of a phone book with all the ceramic manfactures in town.

I'm sure you have noticed, Chinese factories do take care of potential customers. Nice meals in the private rooms with the large round table.

bluechip · Dec 11, 2006

Yes and some of the stuff they put on the round table is even good to eat!

psj12 · Dec 12, 2006

How about asking them to make adapters from their valve threads to JIC so we can retrofit with american locally produced hoses.

bluechip · Dec 14, 2006

I was told by 2 different sources while I was there that JIC fittings are not readily available in china. They would have to be imported. The backhoe factory we use is switching to the better type seal washer (steel with rubber on ID hole only) so I guess that is progress...

The reason the backhoe valves are so jumpy is they do not use a taper, they are plunger type. The ones in our backhoe are a Parker product, made in China.