Number plate light socket size- 2 door saloon

[Lee96]

Hi,
I am new to using imperial sizes, and have a draper expert socket set, but it doesn't have a socket the right size so I need to buy one. The trouble is I have no idea what to buy, it could even be Whitworth for all I know. A 5/16 is too small but a 3/8 is the next one up in my set, which is far too big. I did wonder if it might have been replaced with a cheap one with metric treads but an 8mm is too small and a 9mm is too big. Does anyone know what size it is supposed to be, so I can buy the right socket?

It is a cheap looking plastic lamp on there at the moment, and its broken so the car can't be driven until the job is done.

[simmitc]

Is it that you're trying to remove the nut that holds the cover on the lamp or the nuts that hold the lamp base to the boot lid? In either case, if it's already broken, then I would use pliers or mole grips to get the old one off and then see what size the replacement is.

You might need spanners / sockets in AF, BA, WW and even mm.

Can you post a picture of the nut you've got the problem with?

[Lee96]

Is it that you're trying to remove the nut that holds the cover on the lamp or the nuts that hold the lamp base to the boot lid? In either case, if it's already broken, then I would use pliers or mole grips to get the old one off and then see what size the replacement is.

You might need spanners / sockets in AF, BA, WW and even mm.

Can you post a picture of the nut you've got the problem with?

Thank you. It was the nuts that hold the lamp base to the boot lid. The replacement had the same threads/nuts as the crappy plastic one, but it turns out is a BA2 thread and nut in case anyone else has the issue. I had never heard of BA threads so I would have never found that by myself but it turned out my dad had one laying around at his house and it fit perfectly. I just need to get myself a set of Whitworth as well now really.

[philthehill]

BA stands for 'British Association' threads.
You will find quite a few BA threads/nuts on the Minor so it is good to have a set of BA spanners, sockets and taps/dies.

[Lee96]

BA stands for 'British Association' threads.
You will find quite a few BA threads/nuts on the Minor so it is good to have a set of BA spanners, sockets and taps/dies.

I'm never going to argue when someone gives me an excuse to buy more tools.