-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Uaa/6yVu1eSxUhhEsKxiYmf9huaoej7m2NlY7Lohmv6SiTzdQgZcuMNdk+0L3rce
 UPC4Wg91tzsqIHSlUr8abA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001257503-03-000002.txt : 20031114
<SEC-HEADER>0001257503-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20031114
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031114141143
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001257503-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031114

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000080035
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER, SEWER, PIPELINE, COMM AND POWER LINE CONSTRUCTION [1623]
		IRS NUMBER:				340676895
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 91129
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44101

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUHLMAN JON R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001160543

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31164
		FILM NUMBER:		031003021

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BAKER HOSTETLER LLP
		STREET 2:		1900 EAST NINTH ST
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-3485
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2166210200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BAKER HOSTETLER LLP
		STREET 2:		1900 EAST NINTH ST
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-13</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000080035</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>plpc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001160543</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUHLMAN JON R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>660 BETA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MAYFIELD VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44143</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman of the Company</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares, $2 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.056</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>552453</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares, $2 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1424654</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Robert M. Loesch, By Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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