MRO Today



 

 

 

MRO Today

“Is this Heaven?”
“No, it’s Iowa.”
    
— Field of Dreams


No, its not hazy, we’re shooting the photo though plexiglass. In the dyno booth, a worker takes a partially undressed new Vision on its maiden voyage, to 70 mph and back again. Note the ear protection — she needs it!

Erma Preston has the last word in production, literally. She selects bikes at random as they roll off the line for a 90 minute final inspection. She can challenge any quality issue she finds.
At the manual frame welding station, an arc monitor interface and monitor (just out of sight over the welder’s left shoulder) tracks the sequence, voltage and duration to ensure every required weld is done correctly. If a weld is missed, the fixture locks up and will not release the frame until the issue has been fixed.
This fixture was also designed and built in-house. It is used to assemble the rear suspension system of the Vision. The fixture is air-powered so an assembler can raise or lower it by pushing a foot pedal
Curtis Ettema, liquid paint supervisor, runs the paint department's 5-S system. Every component in the painting process is inspected and approved for use each morning before painting begins. Once tested, each component gets a sticker, green for good or red for trouble.
I told you it was radical. The air filter on the nose of this Vision’s cast aluminum frame is there for a reason; the hollow casting also serves as the engine’s airbox. The Vision literally breathes through its own skeleton. Now that’s engineering.
One jig fits all. This front fork assembly fixture rotates to accommodate the width and rake of fork for any bike. This fixture is currently assembling the front end of an Arlen Ness Signature Series bike.
The new Vegas Low seats its rider just 25.2 inches off the pavement and has repositioned footpegs and longer handlebars, making it ideal for shorter riders. The carrier system seen here is ideal for workers, too. It requires less maintenance than its predecessor and its wide range of adjustability reduces the chance that a worker might develop a cumulative trauma disorder from awkward working positions.
This Dell computer monitor indicates the model of bike being built, the carrier it is on, and the optional headlamp equipment required at this station.

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