PART III: A VISIT TO YORK
Written by Henry N. "Pat" Patterson
October 3, 1994

After leaving Milwaukee we took two days to go the approximately 750 miles to York. The trees in Indiana and Pennsylvania were putting on their fall colors and that made the trip enjoyable. We found a motel and were surprised to be next door to the Harley shop. We were also surprised that the factory was only about a mile up the same road.

We again arrived early and as there were so many people already there that they started our tour early so we missed the opening video. Into the plant we were overwhelmed by the stacks of raw fenders and tanks. Bins and bins of tanks formed but not yet welded together. We quickly went by where they were being welded automatically. We went by an area where oil tanks were being welded. The operator only had to hold the arc holder and the tank rotated. He just had to be sure to hold it still and see that the wire was coming through the holder.

For some reason they take you through the assembly line backwards. We had a quick glance of the machines coming off the assembly line and going to the test rollers and being roller tested before they went to the crating area. There the machine was put on a base frame, tightened down and the folded cardboard was put over it. All the staples were put in automatically, so the guide said. We traveled along the line until we got to where the frame was put on the overhead trolley. The worker there laid the rear fork and the drive belt on the frame for the next step. The following station installed the transmission which was there waiting.

We went by many welding booths where the frames were being assembled and welded piece by piece. In another area a robot was making a final weld on part of the frame. The frame was on a table that moved to put it into the right position for the robot which went through it's movements to make a weld on one side then raise up and go to the other side making a complete circle weld. Another huge automatic machine was making part of the rear section. The worker placed the raw part on a four way jig that rotated and the machine made all the necessary holes and etc. We went by the frame painting room which is in another area from the color room. We saw many, many gleaming black frames that were ready to go to the assembly line. We went by a huge press that was stamping out fenders out of a flat sheet of metal. It probably also presses out the tanks but we did not see that. Too many things to watch and questions to ask in such a short time. We went by a machine that was making exhaust pipes. The operator carefully wiped the pipe clean and then put it into the machine. He put his foot on a switch and automatically a bend was made. It then extended the pipe and rotated it to make the next bend. He then took it out and handed it to the next operator who put it into a machine that measured and cut it to the right length. In another area a robot was picking up a semifinished upper triple tree clamp and moving it to four different large grinding and polishing belts. After it finished the large belts it went to three small belts to get into tighter places. It was then a finished polished piece. He then placed it back on the table and picked up another raw part to do it all over again. All the operator had to do was put on another tray of parts after the first tray was completed. We continued on down through the plant and went by where they were making wiring looms and then by the area where wheels were being assembled. They say this factory makes many more parts of the machine than in Milwaukee but it is much quieter. In both plants we had to get out of the way of many forklifts that were moving parts from one area to the other.

After the tour they took us into the museum. This was a highlight of the tour for me. Here was an exact copy of the machine that I had ridden to the factory 60 years ago and it was in mint condition. It brought back many, many pleasant memories. After the museum tour was over I was talking to the guide and told him why I was there. He volunteered to take me on a short additional tour that was not covered before. It was greatly appreciated. He took me by the new paint plant facility, on past the building where they are making the English Government Military machines. We did not go in. Then into the area where the newest assembly line was being built for dressers. It was something we had been hearing about for some time. When I was there in 1981 this room was war ready to make bombs. Those machines have all been cleared out but I bet they are stored away close by just in case.

It is hard to explain all that goes into an assembly line. You have to use your imagination. The overhead trolley was mostly in place. It, of course, had to be ordered months ago. Workmen were comparing blueprints. Many unfinished pits in the floor were being readied for some machines. You could see it would take quite awhile before this would be ready to use.

These factory tours are very popular not only by Americans, but by foreigners as well. In Milwaukee, we had Frenchman in our group. In York we had some from Holland. I hope all of you can someday make these tours. Plan on it. It is very interesting.