Tool selection for late Series IIa

[damiane]

What with Supercheap Auto having a huge sale, me deciding to proceed with purchase of a late Series IIa and my landy-equipped tool box having disappeared into the night WITH my Ser III landy back in 1984 never to be seen again, I need to start getting together a suitable set of tools. I have a lot of stuff already which is not make-dependent but I recall with horror the mix of AF, Whitworth, and others I can't now recall, on my first landy (which was a IIa).

First question though is 3/8th or 1/2 inch drive?

Second question is range of sizes and standards? I have a dim recollection there is a 1 1/16th socket needed somewhere.

All input from old spanner hands gratefully received.

damian

[JDNSW]

The choice of drive size will depend a bit on your vehicle - i.e. how many rusty bolts you expect to need to twist off. 3/8" is easier for the small body bolts, but for some of the mechanicals you are probably better off using 1/2", including things such as head bolts, tie rod ends, shackle bolts, which probably need a torque wrench with 1/2" drive. I have both, but if keeping it to one, you probably should go 1/2".

Most of the hexagons on the vehicle should be AF, and I can't think of of anything smaller than 7/16 or larger than 1" (what size are the nuts on the end of the axle - they may be 1 1/16"?) except for the wheel bearing nuts, which are 2 1/16".

There are still a significant number of Whitworth/BSF hexagons including wheel nuts, drive flange bolts, and a varying number of others, depending on the age of some of the parts; don't forget that in the last 44years it may well have parts fitted that have been taken from Landrovers back to 1948! Sizes from 1/4"BSF/5/16W to about 9/16"BSF/5/8"W

There are a few hexagons that are BA sizes, one that comes to mind is the lock screw on the Zenith choke lever, but there are others.

There should not be any metric sizes, but it will almost certainly have some - for example, most tierod ends sold today have metric nuts on them, and any number of body bolts may have been replaced with metric ones.

I find that I mostly use sockets and a set of AF ratchet ring spanners.

Hope this helps,

John

[russellrovers]

What with Supercheap Auto having a huge sale, me deciding to proceed with purchase of a late Series IIa and my landy-equipped tool box having disappeared into the night WITH my Ser III landy back in 1984 never to be seen again, I need to start getting together a suitable set of tools. I have a lot of stuff already which is not make-dependent but I recall with horror the mix of AF, Whitworth, and others I can't now recall, on my first landy (which was a IIa).

First question though is 3/8th or 1/2 inch drive?

Second question is range of sizes and standards? I have a dim recollection there is a 1 1/16th socket needed somewhere.

All input from old spanner hands gratefully received.

damian hi damiam toowamba swop is where to go mate

[damiane]

hi damiam toowamba swop is where to go mate

Toowamba? Isn't that in Qld? Love to go there but seems a bit far just for some tools. :D

cheers mate

[gromit]

1 1/16" is the wheel nut size but try for a 6-sided socket for this.

Don't forget that trash & treasure markets can also throw up some suitable spanners & sockets. The Whitworth sizes will have to come from there or a Swap Meet because I don't think the staff at SuperCheap (why that name when they are not 'super' or 'cheap') will know what you are talking about......


Colin

[JDNSW]

As Colin says. Go to Wantirna Market tomorrow and look through the collections of tools being sold "out of Dad's shed".

Similar markets, Op shops etc are a good source of Whitworth tools, often very good quality and very cheap.

John

[gromit]

As Colin says. Go to Wantirna Market tomorrow and look through the collections of tools being sold "out of Dad's shed".

Similar markets, Op shops etc are a good source of Whitworth tools, often very good quality and very cheap.

John

John,
Wantirna is mostly treasure nowadays, Dandenong is more trash :).


Colin

[damiane]

Thanks John. I had a browse at Bunnings this morning. All mixed metric/AF sets. Sidchrome web site has a straight AF set. I think as a starter I'll go with your advice and get a 1/2 set, with a speed brace and a t/bar maybe. Need a torque wrench I spose and maybe a couple of common use sizes in deep socket style; say 7/16 and 1/2 inch.

I'll do some more research for those Whitworth sizes you mentioned.

I seem to recall the axle nut used a tube spanner?

Have to review my ring/open enders. Again I think almost all my AF were in the Landy. I like the off-set ring + open enders for versatility.

[damiane]

Colin,

you are right there mate. I did some comparisons with same or at least similar socket sets - good brands - between Bunnings and Supercheap. As you say, nether super nor cheap. Cooking lunch for my 93 year old dad tomorrow so I'll have to put off the next swap meet till after that.

thanks

damian

[damiane]

John,
Wantirna is mostly treasure nowadays, Dandenong is more trash :).


Colin

So are Whitworth sizes "treasure", or "trash"? Or are they both depending on the eye of the beholder?

See the deep philosophical issues that people don't get to appreciate if they are not members of this forum. ;)

damian:D

[JDNSW]

Thanks John. I had a browse at Bunnings this morning. All mixed metric/AF sets. Sidchrome web site has a straight AF set. I think as a starter I'll go with your advice and get a 1/2 set, with a speed brace and a t/bar maybe. Need a torque wrench I spose and maybe a couple of common use sizes in deep socket style; say 7/16 and 1/2 inch.

I'll do some more research for those Whitworth sizes you mentioned.

I seem to recall the axle nut used a tube spanner?

Have to review my ring/open enders. Again I think almost all my AF were in the Landy. I like the off-set ring + open enders for versatility.

Yes, the usual spanner for the wheel bearing nuts is a tube spanner.

I use offset ring spanners a lot, but also, as I said, ratchet ring spanners. You also need open end spanners for some things, so ring/OE are useful. Sockets are used a lot, particularly for bits you can't get a ring spanner on or don't have room to swing it. Remember for most body bolts, you need usually two spanners the same size, most commonly 7/16"AF.

John

[gromit]

So are Whitworth sizes "treasure", or "trash"? Or are they both depending on the eye of the beholder?

See the deep philosophical issues that people don't get to appreciate if they are not members of this forum. ;)

damian:D

I go to Wantirna but you need to go in with the traders (costs extra).
Wantirna is 'treasure' as in higher prices, more regular stall holders etc.

Colin

[snafubar]

Hi Damiane, I found myself in possession of a 2a last year. broken clutch so the gearbox needed to come out. being a bit of a mechanical enthusiast i had a good range of metric and imperial, but no whitworth - other than a couple of ex BHP 3in+ spanners..... so i bought these:

8 Piece Socket Set Whitworth/ BSF Thread, 1/2" Drive, Imperial Thread- Eurotech (http://shop.allfourx4.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/allfourx4/Products/ET10480&ViewAction=ViewProduct)

10 Piece Socket Set Whitworth BSF Imperial Thread 3/8" - Eurotech (http://shop.allfourx4.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/allfourx4/Products/ET10540&ViewAction=ViewProduct)

and

9 Piece Whitworth Combination Wrench/ Spanner Set- Imperial BSF Thread- Eurotech (http://shop.allfourx4.com.au/epages/shop.sf/en_AU/?ObjectPath=/Shops/allfourx4/Products/ET61700&ViewAction=ViewProduct)

they feel very good in the hand - lightweight and modern.....
i dont get the impression they are going to break anytime soon.

i dont use 1/2in unless i've already tried with 3/8, or dont have socket big enough. much more 'feel' and easier to manoeuvre in tight spots with 3/8.
i got the 1/2 set for the extra 3 sockets.
havent needed deep sockets yet
i would have to say though, spanners are a must!
i prob use them most.

another great place to pick up whitworth spanners is in any of the many antique shops that are popping up all over the place recently - well in the last 10 years or so.
i am close to newcastle and around this way there are plenty of them. they are commonly filled with lamps tables vases etc - old furniture and a lot of decorative stuff.
i used to get dragged into them.
that was until i realised most of them had a corner tucked away akin to a man cave - now i dont grumble so much.
heaps of curios and old-school tools - lots of carpentry tools, saws, rabbit traps and the sorts. also usually some old tool boxes - quite often filled with old hand tools.
more than once i found old nsw/vic railway tool boxes with 'much loved' mix-matched whitworth spanners. geodore (spell?) brand i come across a bit but most usually good qual stuff and still very much functional.
most i ever paid is $5 a piece - mainly double open ended.
but thats less than 1/2 the price of the set above - but i like matchy-matchy also, so.....

if i get time this coming weekend, i'll stick my head in a couple of shops that are pretty close by and see whats there.

any excuse i suppose.....

stay tuned

[damiane]

Thanks snafubar (love the combo army moniker). I managed to pick up some whitworth stuff- mix of sockets and spanners - off the gumtree from a former landy owner last week. My brother has kindly collected for me as both he and seller live in Gippsland fringes, so it's sight unseen so far (except for the usual crappy photos on gumtree) but I thought, "It's a start", plus I got a new new garage creeper in very good nick for $20.

All I need now is "him/her" to operate on. Things are advancing on that front. Vehicle I have in mind is going in to experienced mechanic possibly later this week to see what's needed for RWC. Fingers crossed. Could be soon a proud father of a new 43 year old late Series IIa SWB.

Then I will have a real problem. Naming "her/him"!!!!!! No seriously. This is an important step in bonding. It's like naming a new-born. I might even hold a competition on here. Have to publish photos first of course so everyone can say "she (he) looks like a . . . . . . to me."

I think he will have to be a she. My first and second landies were "les femmes". I just don't see landies as butch, like say a Unimog is butch. I see them as sensitive creatures that need to be treated with respect. Do that and they will follow you anywhere. Strewth that sounds sexist. I better be careful. :)