AF imperial Whitworth?

[rtcosic]

I have dear old Dad's 1/2" drive socket set. Metric, 'AF' and Whitworth sockets.
When he was alive I had to spend 10 minutes sorting them all out before using them. He would pick up a handful of sockets, use the first one that vaguely fitted and replace them in the box in any random order.
Similarly, his spanners were arranged as open-ended metric, 'AF' and Whitworth or ring metric, 'AF' and Whitworth.

I explained many times but gave up by my 20's!

I never had the heart to mention BA, BSP, BSC etc.

 

[Maker]

A 1/4" Allen key bit is ideal for hammering into a worn 6mm bolt

That's what Torx is for isn't it?

 

[Morrisman]

whitworth is imperial just shell out for all 3 types for what its worth couldnt be bothered rooting though to see what fits and what doesn't i dont look at whats wrote on them just look at the nut and generaly it fits the one i choose

Exactly my point. Metric or English. I don't need a 3/4" spanner with 1/2" Whitworth stamped on it to work out which one will fit the nut.

 

[Barking Mat]

The only solution is to have a huge collection of old spanners and sockets.

When I restored my 60's truck in the 90's I started with metric, then bought impérial, then Whitworth.

I've definitely hammered on a few sockets and spanners, to my shame, but needs must and all that.

 

[Robotstar5]

The only solution is to have a huge collection of old spanners and sockets.

When I restored my 60's truck in the 90's I started with metric, then bought impérial, then Whitworth.

I've definitely hammered on a few sockets and spanners, to my shame, but needs must and all that.

I did similar, started off with metric for Jap bikes then added imperial to work on Land Rovers and finally WW when I started restoring stationary engines. At least I didn't have to buy much when I got my 1950 tractor last year.

 

[keithski122]

A 1/4" Allen key bit is ideal for hammering into a worn 6mm bolt

That's what Torx is for isn't it?

When you're trying to get a job done and it works then all is good.

 

[mechman]

What's the difference?
Is there any difference?
I want a set of non metric spanners for various old things I own but don't really know what to buy.
Help!

Whitworth and BSF use the same diameter threads but Whitworth have a more coarse thread, the head on a Whitworth bolt is generally the next size up to the same diameter BSF bolt . I.E. A 3/8" Whit spanner will fit a 7/16 " BSF bolt. Not sure if it had anything to do with torque etc. Think I got that close enough.
Norm.

 

[MetalMonkey]

Exactly my point. Metric or English. I don't need a 3/4" spanner with 1/2" Whitworth stamped on it to work out which one will fit the nut.

1/2W would be about 23mm...
3/4" would be more like 19mm - 7/16W would be closer at 20.8mm

I can normally gauge the correct spanner/socket by eye together with some educated guessing on the age and provenance. The differences are usually only fairly small but just sufficient to round it off.

If it is well worn or rusted then it is a case of whatever fits best.

 

[armalites]

One one of my LR S3 I swapped out the original ACR18 alternator for an A127 and it had 3 nut/bolts one metric, one AF and one whitworth. Clearly wasn't supposed to be like that but back in the day someone just got the job done.

Zoro/Cromwell Kennedy Pro do some nice socket set with metric,AF and whitworth with is really unusual these days. I've got a 3/8 and 1/2 set. I think the big 1/4 set has BA as well

 

[armalites]

I have a couple of these printed and laminated, very useful to visualise sizes, when you also look at tolerance charts it's surprising how close some sizes can be.

Spanner Size Chart

Spanner Jawsize conversion chart

dropbears.com

 

[Ton-up]

For several Saturdays now I have been helping my mate turn this -

Into a pile of bits -

It's a 1918 German engine. It uses all Whitworth threads and proper big nuts!!

 

[Milkybars]

@Ton-up ....As he sourced any drawings yet, when @Brad93 came over, I couldn't tag along because of Covid (was not a happy bunny)

 

[Ton-up]

Not yet, think Gary’s too busy at the moment with work and trying to get sensible prices for the boiler repair…
Its in really good order, but I said to him today we need the blueprints to work out the original sizes of some of the bits.

 

[Brad93]

I don't think the prices for the boiler are unreasonable.

In fact knowing how much work is going into the chimney, i'd say it's cheap.

German steel isn't as good as British.

 

[Ton-up]

I dont think you have heard the written down quote Brad……

 

[Brad93]

I dont think you have heard the written down quote Brad……

£30k

 

[Ton-up]

Verbal quote ‘about £30K’ , turned into a written quote of £50k!!

He’s got a couple of other people coming next week to quote.

 

[Brad93]

Verbal quote ‘about £30K’ , turned into a written quote of £50k!!

He’s got a couple of other people coming next week to quote.

I still don't think that's bad. in todays climate.
Bear in the taps and reamers to rethread the stays, are over £1000 each. so you've got 4-5 grand in tooling just to replace the stays.
Pneumatic riveters are now being priced extortionately due to social media and demand.
Steel is still at a ridiculously high price.

The verbal quote was an estimate as i understand it.

 

[Brad93]

how much did gary pay for the engine out of interest?

 

[Ton-up]

Pm'd you.