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MG TD TF 1500 - Spanners

I have just reponded to a posting on screw threads and suggested a small number of taps and dies would cover most of the fastners on a T series. This has prompted me to raise the issue of spanners. You see advertisements in car magazines for "175 Piece Spanner and Socket Sets". I suspect 95% of these will never be used. I do have a large box at the back of the garage full of old spanners which I sometimes root through but my everyday tool kit simply has a few BSF/Whit open and closed ended spanners and some sockets. Non of them match but they are all top quality. I can grab hold of one without looking and know which one it is.


Jan T
J Targosz

Back in the day owners could have upgraded to something like this King Dick kit (ad from 1951).

M Magilton

I have a good selection as well but I must say I am tempted by the nee universal type that claim to fit metric or SAE... Guess they would fit Whitworth too
Geoffrey M Baker

Hi Geoffrey,

I was given a set of "Metrinch" spanners as a retirement present. Whilst they do fit a range of sizes they are rather slack and need to be turned through a wide angle before they grip. They are like a ratchet that has a coarse number of teeth. Fine unless access is restricted.

Jan T
J Targosz

I've got a set of the Metrinch tools, as well. Good quality, but with the drawback you mentioned. They are particularly handy with some Whitworth and Metric sizes that I don't otherwise have, or with corroded nuts.
David Littlefield

I'm leaning towards the Kobalt tools. They are metric/sae as well, but are passthrough...
Geoffrey M Baker

"I must say I am tempted by the nee universal type that claim to fit metric or SAE.."
My experience with "fit SAE and Metric" is that they don't fit either very well. I quit buying that sort of tools long ago.

"Guess they would fit Whitworth too "
Maybe and maybe not - most likely the latter. A 7 piece set of proper Whitworth wrenches and a comparable set of sockets that will fit 99% of the fasteners on our cars from British Tools and Fasteners is not all that expensive, unless you purchase King Dick wrenches, which is like purchasing Snap On wrenches. SAE and Metric wrenches don't fit any of the Whitworth heads very well. Cheers - Dave
D W DuBois

That's a common criticism Dave, and may well be true; but the idea is that instead of gripping ag the points of a nut, the wrench turns and grips the flats instead. They claim less stripping as a result. True or not I don't know. I'll have to give them a try sometime... In the meantime I have a set of good Whitworth tools so no worries!
Geoffrey M Baker

ust FWIW, I put "Whitworth wrenches" into Amazon search and there are a lot of Whitworth wrenches and socket sets available at very reasonable prices (quality unknown of course) that appear suitable for the average amateur shadetree mechanic like me. There is also what appears to be a fairly complete set of Whitworth taps and dies (again, quaility unknown) for under $100.

http://www.amazon.com/Toolzone-Piece-Whitworth-Tap-TP126/dp/B006B3NE3U/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1414682093&sr=8-8&keywords=whitworth+wrenches#productDetails

I bought my Whitworth wrenches and sockets off Ebau and am quite satisfied but, as I said, I'm not a professional so mine do not get the hard use that others might. I was just pleasantly surprised at how readily available Whitworth tool seem to be. Jud
J K Chapin

Not needing a professional set, I bought all of my Whitworth wrenches through Amazon and am very pleased with them all. Combo wrenches, box wrenches and sockets. Bought my taps and dies from British tools and fasteners, but had I known about Amazons prices, I would have gotten my taps and dies from them. The prices at Amazon for taps and die sets is very reasonable. Since the wife has Prime, there's no shipping charges also. PJ
Paul S Jennings

One of the reasons I would consider these "universal" sockets is the idea of a "road trip" tool kit... being able to carry a small set of these instead of a larger mix of metric, Whitworth and SAE tools seems like a good idea...
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey.

My set of Whitworth fits everything on my car so I don't have to carry a mix.
Has your DPO done you wrong, if so, replace the non- whitworth stuff. Even the engine has Whitwortth heads on the metric bolts

I find that all I really need to carry are 1/4, 5/16/ 3/8, and 1/2 BSF, & a 2 BA wrench
Whitworth sizes are 1/16 smaller than BSF.

I got a full set of SnapOn BSF or W wrenches from ebay (sockets, open and combination wrenches from 8 BA to 1" BSF).
By careful bidding some were a steal, eg: 3/8 drive socket set for $35

Don Harmer

One thing I would love is a set of "stubby" Whitworth spanners/wrenches. I think they are made of "Unobtainium."
L Karpman

Buy a cheap set, cut a piece out of them and Mig/Tig weld them back together. Hmmm, they sure would come in handy at times. PJ
Paul S Jennings

I always keep a BSA bicycle spanner in my kit. Four sizes in the one stubby tool. Very useful!
Pic of by bike spanner collection.

Matthew.

M Magilton

This thread was discussed between 28/10/2014 and 31/10/2014

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