What Spanners?

Post by **Packedup** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 12:52 am

I've (in theory) got a 50 quid budget for tools for the pickup project. Be nice not to have to use my own, that way they might not get stolen, lost, broken, and I might be able to take the box out my boot and have space for shopping or other such trivialities!

Given 50 quid would just about buy one half decent socket rail and ratchet it'll be cheapy stuff, maybe a lot of s/h car boot/ autojumble bits. But what sizes will I need?

I seem to stumble across the odd Whitworth fasteners, but also a fair bit where my AFs do the trick. Could do with a fairly comprehensive list of sizes needed, and whether socket is OK or spanner is required (clearance issues, and so on).

Where to buy nice 6 sided sockets instead of the 12 pointed ones that often round off 40 year old rusted nuts n bolts would be handy too.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 1:30 pm

Mostly AF on Minors - but £50 spent wisely should buy plenty !! You need sockets and ring/open-end combination spanners - best to have two of each size - starting from 7/16" AF and upwards as far as you can afford. Try Machine Mart.

Post by **Blunt** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 2:38 pm

Try eBay
I just did a search
CLICK

Post by **bmcecosse** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 7:15 pm

Autojumbles are best of all - but wrong time of year I suppose. In the summer one stall was selling new ring/open end combi AF spanners by Britool for £1 each !!! Wish I had bought more now. And I got a box of excellent used AF sockets in all the right sizes for £5 - and a good long T bar for 50p. So tools don't need to cost a lot.

Post by **les** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:37 pm

There are many bolts with BSF threads on a minor, the AF spanners are pretty well limited to the engine/gearbox.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:52 pm

by the way Packedup - I'm already bidding on the ebay spanners (the 8 open ended). Might be able to split it with you if you're desperate.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:52 pm

They may have BSF threads - but almost all have AF heads. I agree though - there are a few Whitworth sized bolts dotted about ! Certainly the suspension and brakes are all AF - except maybe the rear axle brake pipes !!

Post by **rayofleamington** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:57 pm

Certainly the suspension and brakes are all AF

Not the case on the older cars, but certainly by the late 60's they were nearly all AF except for a handful of things.
My 54 had nearly all Whitworths (until September) and is now a wonderful mix of BS AF and metric

Post by **les** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 10:59 pm

A bsf bolt that an af spanner fits, really. I can't get an af spanner to fit the lower suspension arm bolts!

Post by **Packedup** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:08 pm

Until I've got a definate answer on budget etc I'm not going to be bidding on anything, so no worries there

Car boot and autojumbles will be the most likely s/h sources (there just isn't going to be the money for quality new), but I could still do with an idea what sizes I'll need. AF stuff is simple enough, I'll just get a socket and spanner to suit 5/16" up to around 1 5/16" - But it's the unusual sizes that I assume are Whitworth that I really need a hand with. Got a 1/4 WW spanner and socket now, but for example those lower arm fasteners seem a bit odd. Luckily a mix of 6 sided AF and metric sockets have done everything so far, but I'd really like to know just what sizes there should be, so I can get exactly what's needed for now.

There's also the matter of do any of the fasteners need deep sockets, or thinner ones (so would need both 1/2" and 3/8" drive versions), etc.

Mainly though I want the place to have their own tools, so mine don't go missing, need lugging around, etc, as so far my sparse (and mostly random s/h) kit has done about 90% of the jobs without too many problems

Post by **les** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:42 pm

I can't remember where I saw it, club mag maybe, but there is a list around that shows the spanner sizes that are needed for all the bolts etc on a Minor, I've got one somewhere, but someone may know of it and post a link, if not I will list them for you if I find my copy.

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:30 am

Don't forget the 18mm spanner and socket (very useful for wheelnuts and a bunch of other things too)

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:41 am

And a 1/2 inch and 13mm spanner and socket, they do just about everything else ;)

Post by **rayofleamington** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 12:57 am

The 18mm and 1/4"WW is pretty much all I can remember to have needed that wasn't in the average AF socket set.
Some fasteners are bound to end up metric, depending on what spares you use. I was happy to find my replacement wing bolts were 1/4"ww however a lot of folks would be unhappy with that

There's also the matter of do any of the fasteners need deep sockets, or thinner ones (so would need both 1/2" and 3/8" drive versions), etc

The cars were engineered on "good practice" or however it was known in those days, so you need virtually no special tools at all!
There are the occasional big sizes like the rear hub nut, or steering wheel nut (which often get knife and forked) but even these can be done if you have the correct standard socket (except for the very early steering wheel nut so I was informed yesterday).
These days a lot of engineering is done by CAD jockeys who have not had the benefit of proper engineering training therefore 'anything goes' therefore 'best practice' is something they never get their heads around.

Post by **Alec** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 8:13 am

Hello all,

our 1968 Traveller has Whitworth fasteners on the chassis and suspension with UNF\UNC on the engine\gearbox\rear axle. I have never heard of Whitworth fasteners with UNF sized heads? The most common size is 5\16 and 3\8. I don't remember what the bumper nuts are, 5\8 or that order?. Someone mentioned 18mm for wheel nuts, but they are again a Whitworth fastener, 3\8 probably from memory.

Alec

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 4:06 pm

The wheel nuts are Whitworth - but the studs are UNF thread - certainly nothing is metric - except perhaps for some 'pattern' parts fitted recently ? BMC messed about with the bolts they used to save re-tooling the workforce putting the cars together. So there are some oddballs out there - but all my suspension front and rear is AF - 65 Traveller.

Post by **Packedup** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:44 pm

There may not be anything metric on there, but I've certainly used a 15mm and 16mm socket on them! Seem to recall the 16 was used on the front suspension to get the uprights off, but that might because it's a nice 6 sided impact one (bought to get very very tight 5/8 AF strut bolts off my Triumph).

Will go through the thread sometime and try and work out the various sizes posted into a list so I can go shopping

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:52 pm

Same here - some of us amateurs use whatever we have that does the job...

Post by **Onne** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 5:59 pm

True. but it is handy to have th exact right one!

Post by **bigginger** » Sat Dec 03, 2005 6:03 pm

Oh OK, I have - unless it's Whitworth!