This whole subject I think is something that needs more exploring. I
generally tend to order all nuts, bolts, etc. from the big suppliers,
simply because I know I'll get something which fits, and is the appropriate
strength/grade for the task. But I realise that I pay over the odds for
this, and I also feel stupid phoning Kippings to mail-order a few pence
worth of nuts - the postage sometimes costs more than the parts! (I
usually try to order at the same time as something else, but sometimes it
just doesn't work out.....)
I know that many listers have vast amounts of experience in engineering,
automotive or otherwise, and can confidently go into a hardware store and
buy exactly what they need, but my attempts to do this in the past have
usually fallen flat. Often this is because I can't find a part that fits.
Do many stores stock only metric bolts now?
I did once manage to find a nut for the exhaust manifold-downpipe, only to
have it fall off a couple of weeks later - apparently I'd bought one in the
wrong material (can't remember what) and it expanded due to the heat. Ok,
stupid I know, but I'm not an engineer (well, I'm a computer engineer, but
this isn't very relevant). Of course I know that exhaust manifolds get
hot, but I *don't* know which materials expand more than others.
What would be really cool is a list of all the nuts, bolts and other common
parts that go into our cars, and a spec for each one - something that I can
take into a hardware shop, show them, and without any more questions be
given the correct thing. Does anyone know of a resource like this? If
not, would anyone with a website be willing to host it - I'm sure that if
the list all got together we'd be able to get a sizeable list of bolts
without too much effort.
I'd also appreciate some pointers from UK listers on where to go to get
these parts. I tend to try places like B&Q, but as I said, I often don't
have too much joy.
Dean
-----------------
Date: Thu, 5 Apr 2001 19:47:35 +0100
From: "Graham Stretch" <technical@iwnet.screaming.net>
Subject: Re: 1500 Hard-top Questions
Hi Richard, Mike
The 1/2" AF bolt should by rights have a 5/16" thread on it.
On the whole Triumph stuck to the system of into steel use UNF (fine)
thread
form, into aluminium use UNC (coarse) thread form.
Common sizes on Triumphs
5/16 AF = 3/16 UNF or alternatively 2BA
3/8 AF = 3/16 UNF or alternatively 2BA
7/16 AF = 1/4 UNF or UNC
1/2 AF = 5/16 UNF or UNC
9/16 AF = 1/2 UNF or UNC
5/8 AF = 9/16 UNF (bolt often found with a 3/4 AF nut on)
3/4 AF = 5/8 UNF
|