Quote:

The question you should be asking of these suppliers is what is the specification of the stainless steel fasteners that they are offering for sale (exactly what are you getting for your money) and can they email you a copy of their QA certification including - Mill certificate for the original stainless steel material - who produced it and where/when? Chemical and mechanical testing (stress and rupture tests) carried out, heat treatment and coatings/plating - always useful if parts fail and legal people start asking questions?

You might just find that some of the cheap, far eastern produced, stainless steel fasteners on offer might just turn out to have been made from cheese when it comes to testing.

Now do you seriously expect a company such as Nakatanenga to tell people including possible competitors who actually makes items for them? Why not ask for detailed technical drawings and specifications whilst you are at it?

Why do you want to know when a particular nut or bolt is made? A nut or bolt does not exactly age/weaken quickly with age. Also there is not exactly a lot of room on a nut to put material/tech spec/place and depth of manufacture etc

Even if there was enough room would people understand the information? There is a lot of information on the front of a headlight and I doubt very much if the average driver has even noticed the markings let alone be able to tell if a headlight is RHD or LHD which is marked on the front of the lens.



Nakatanenga is the ONLY supplier of stainless Defender door bolts with the correct genuine heads on them. These are NOT exactly mass produced in a far eastern sweat shop of a factory. There again Nakatanenga are the only company who has stainless headlight adjustment screws, not produced in a far eastern sweatshop.

I know some of the quantities that need to be ordered to have these items specifically made for Nakatanenga. These items are not exactly readily available from your local nut and bolt stockist.

Nakatanenga does have a little bit of understanding and experience with stainless steel. That might be the very reason why Nakatanenga provides anti seize paste with their bolt kits. Oddly enough they are the only supplier who does this. Maybe other suppliers are not aware of galling or stainless steel cold welding?

YES there are lots of suppliers out there who do not fully understand what they are supplying and they are in the race to be the cheapest guy on the block. I got a phone call from one customer who asked me if the door bolts actually fitted the door hinges. He had bought a set off ebay and the bolt heads were too large for the door hinges. The ebay seller solution was to suggest to the customer that he filed/grind the heads down to size. One Nakatanenga kit and he was a happy bunny.

Have just noticed another supplier selling a stainless bolt kit for 110s with about 100 pieces in kit, no anti seize paste for £130. Our price for a VAST 110 kit for 430 pieces including anti seize paste is £99. AndrewS I might of just have had a bright idea. Price rise coming along




Morals from those stories?

1) Buy cheap, buy twice

2) Just because it is the most expensive does not make it the best.

3) Buy from suppliers who have experience, knowledge and a good reputation of dealing with stainless





Brendan

leeds wrote:

The tube of anti seize paste on ebay is between £20-£30. What I do not understand is why other UK suppliers will not include anti seize paste as standard or have they not heard of stainless steel cold welding?

If thats the case, Will have a set for a 110, less £25, and you can keep the past  California F1, 75th 110 "Kermit", 50th Ann V8, 90 V8 Hybrid, 55 Series 1

Main Brian James Trailer Dealer for South West UK

nitram17 wrote:

............Most sensible buyers can spot the chancers and the internet is your friend!I would take recomendations from here but i would always check the internet for other suppliers as there is always bias however unintentional if advice is provided by a vendor!