MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - BSP taps and dies

I'm looking for an inexpensive set of BSP taps and dies and haven't seen one yet; britishfasteners.com and ebay both seem to be pretty pricey. Even buying a single BSP tap (3/8 is the size I'm looking for) is $15 plus shipping.
Anybody know of a good cheap source?
Thanks!
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey the answer is relatively simple.

Cheap, good tools don't exist and if found : mostly totally useless.

Bear in mind " you get what you pay for "

Gerard
Gerard Hengeveld

Although I appreciate your desire for frugality - heck, I'm a past master at that one, so I'm on your side - with tools I tend to go for quality goods. Cheaper taps can snap more easily, may not produce properly formed threads and the cheaper pot-metal die stocks and tap handles can break soon after you start using them. If you've ever tried to remove a tap which has snapped off in that unobtainium part you're trying desperately to restore, you will pay virtually any price not to have to do so. So, with tools I just bite the bullet and buy the good stuff - it will last a lifetime and cause you to use a far fewer profane words.
Kevin McLemore

Often you can find various BSP and BSF taps on Amazon at quite reasonable prices.
Lew Palmer

Thanks Lew; a practical response is always appreciated :)
We've all been over the "you get what you pay for" argument. Still, Harbor Freight has made billions proving it wrong.
I tend to be one who regularly prefers good tools to inferior ones. For example, I have quality English and American planes and chisels (Stanley and Marples), because I use them a fair amount; and I know the difference between good US steel and cheap Chinese crud!
However, I am equally of the opinion that there is no point in paying for a professional, expensive tool designed for hard use, if you will only use it twice in your lifetime. It's better in such cases to go with something which will give you better value.
In the case of a 3/8 BSP tap; I have one intended use for it, and expect to use it probably just the once. The idea of paying up to $275 for a fancy tap and die set from britishfasteners.com to do this one job is thus pretty much nonsensical.
Still, I don't criticize those who can afford the best for buying the best, even if it's never used. It's nice to have the best!
But in my case, my tool budget always considers the amount of use I plan on giving a tool, when I consider purchasing. I've learnt (as most of us have) that sometimes the cheapest isn't the best (I ended up buying a quality angle grinder after the $19 HF model burnt out); but I've also learned that cheap is just fine, sometimes (my HF stapler did a great job for $22 and paying $150 for a professional upholsterer's stapler would have been a complete waste of money, IMHO).
In this case, I'm looking at making a 3/8 BSF fitting for one item and one item only, and would be extremely surprised if I ever use it twice in my lifetime. Should I pay $100+ for a set? Doesn't make much sense to me.
Geoffrey M Baker

I don't happen to have a 3/8 BSF tap, but if I did I'd happily loan it for a one-time use like this. When I need something like that for a one-time-only I often contact friends and associates, as they do me. Perhaps someone here can loan you one?
Kevin McLemore

Geoffrey my guess is you want to clean out the threads in the fuel tank outlet? Yes? If so try an engineering supplier who deals in old stock. I bought a quality 3/8" BSP HSS Parallel tap for $20 from Moyles Engineering Supplies here in Sydney. You must have a similar Alladens's cave in your part of the world?

P Hehir

I do want to clean the threads of the current fuel tank fitting, but I also am considering making a right angle fitting for a fuel valve so I can drain the tank easily while still maintaining maximum road clearance.
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey,

I found this on EBAY if its of any help.




http://www.ebay.com/itm/G-3-8-19-BSP-Parallel-British-Standard-Pipe-HSS-Tap-/110784050703?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19cb3e760f
DHN Nordstrom

Had to be the fuel tank. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Geoffrey

I have posted this advice previously regarding recovering female threads when you do not possess the required tap, I will do a repeat.

Providing you possess a bolt or fitting that matches the thread you need to recover use this process to recover the female thread.

Hold the male threaded item in the vice using "soft jaws" and using a hacksaw cut a 0.5mm groove along the longitudinal axis of the thread.

This does 2 things it creates an area where material can be stored and the sharp edges of the groove act as a cutting tool.

Use with lubricant and with a forward and reverse turning action, removing the male item to clear the swarf deposited in the groove on a regular basis.

I have recovered damaged and cross threaded female threads on many occasions using this method. Cheap and effective.
G Evans

Totally agree with Gerard and Kevin. It is a total waste to buy cheap tools. Only buy the tap / die / spanner that you need and buy the best. To maintain an old MG you only need a few BSF spanners, 2 and 4 BA ones and corresponding dies and taps. The so called "Comprehensive 210 Piece Tool Kits" advertised in the UK contain 200, poor quality tools that will never be used. I have found flee markets and car boot sales to be an excellent source for tools. I am not referring to the shiny new tat but to good quality second hand items. These have often belonged to deceased engineers who needed the best for their work and who looked after their possessions. I have also got a set of top quality metric spanners, pliers and screwdrivers which were once the tool kit in a Mercedes in a local scrap yard.


Jan T
J Targosz

Thanks for advice and suggestions. I've finally located a 3/8 BSP fuel valve which is male on both ends and can use that. I've also purchased a 3/8 BSP cap for it.
I had been considering a motorcycle petcock valve which had a hose fitting; I would have had to cut that off, braze a piece of pipe onto it, and thread it for BSP. Now it will not be necessary!
Geoffrey M Baker

This thread was discussed between 01/01/2015 and 02/01/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now