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Posted by Dan Shockley on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 03:03:28 :
As promised on the forum months ago, I just received the first prototypes from one of two suppliers. They are complete with all the internals and they are great!!
As many of your know, one of my goals is to produce parts that are completely interchangeable with Warn's original design. This has proven to be a significant challenge. I have found over 10 major revisions of the M13 hub with nearly 50 small changes along the way. Needless to say, without a commitment to this goal, it never would have been possible.
A good friend with 35 years as a manufacturing engineer and I spent 6 hours yesterday at the supplier pouring over prints, used hubs and the prototypes - perfecting the design. In all we made about 15 changes to meet the goal. Overall, I must say, these hubs will be awesome!!
We have updated all the materials with modern grades of steel, aluminum and brass and have carefully selected all the materials to be superior in many ways to the original.
The supplier is going to update the prototypes with all the changes and send them to me before I return home in August. At that time, I have enlisted two highly modified trucks to durability test these hubs as well as a set from a second supplier. I want to make sure that all my customers are incredibly satisfied with their purchases.
Right now, with the latest quotations and information available, we are targeting $300 per set, delivered, with a 2 year warranty.
And, I have a surprise coming with the prototypes. After a great deal of discussion with folks at the Rally in IA, and off the forum, I have found a design for the dial that I think people will really love!
Thanks for all your support on this project. It is a community like this that makes this hobby great!!
Have a wonderful day,
Dan
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