BSW sockets or spanner set

[bryco]

A good friend of mine is currently a rebuilding an Austin Healy 100/6.
He has been searching locally for a few sockets/ spanners but to no result... Any one out there that may be able to loan or direct to an aussie supplier for BSW tools??

[Bushie]

Garage sales.


Martyn

[pop058]

Garage sales.


Martyn

Yep and troll through all the tool sites at swap meets and markets

[bee utey]

I should think that ebay would be the first port of call.

new spanners from the UK:

Whitworth Spanner SET British Standard Whitworth BSW 8pc Combination Wrench SET | eBay

sockets

Whitworth BSF BSW 3 8" Drive Shallow Sockets 7pc SET 1 8" 1 2" BI HEX LSR29 | eBay

Postage from the UK is plenty fast enough for a classic rebuild.

[gromit]

Most tool shops can get them, my wife got me a set of Whitworth combination spanner for Christmas, they are Trax brand (Taiwan).

They turn up at trash & treasure markets along with swap meets as mentioned.
You'd be surprised what a 'wanted' ad in your local paper will turn up or a wanted card in the local shop.......I got a complete set of Whitworth Sidchrome ring spanners from an advert.


Colin

[crackers]

Remember, your mate probably doesn't need a full set, so keeping an eye open for the right ones is a good move. Dunno what a Healy workshop manual is like but my factory MGB manual has a list of the spanners needed at the front.

Professional tools suppliers should be able to get the correct spanners and I'd pay for them before buying cheap - cheap tools will bugger up nuts and bolts and oftimes, will not provide as much torque to the offending fastener. A restoration isn't like weekend tinkering and paying for good kit is a good move.

[Scouse]

Yep and troll through all the tool sites at swap meets and markets

The Central Coast's biggest swap meet is on tomorrow at Gosford Showground. Plenty of tool guys used to be there.

[banarcus]

Whitworth refers to the thread. Just use imperial AF spanners/sockets instead.

[crackers]

I recently bought a set of Whitworth sockets, just the sockets. Cost me $35 off Fleabay, delivered, from Sydney. Ordered monday, was pulling off mudguards on saturday. They've done some very heavy work and seem good, strong sockets.

Just check the dreaded eBay.

[JDNSW]

Whitworth refers to the thread. Just use imperial AF spanners/sockets instead.

No. Imperial or AF fasteners have the bolt heads or nuts a simple fraction of an inch. Whitworth fasteners have the bolt heads or nuts a seemingly meaningless size, that is specified by the size of the fastener. (So that Whitworth spanners have a size marking that is clearly a lot less than the actual spanner opening.

There are a few sizes that are close enough to the same, for example, 7/16"AF is the same as 3/16" Whitworth (Also very close to 11mm), but for most sizes you need to use the right spanner.

The Whitworth spanner sizes were specified by Whitworth in the mid nineteenth century, and envisaged the use of fasteners made from wrought iron. When British Standard Fine (BSF) threads were introduced about the beginning of the twentieth century, steel was the commonly used material, and smaller nuts were strong enough, so BSF specifies one size smaller spanner than Whitworth. Many spanners have both the Whitworth and BSF sizes marked. Most Whitworth fasteners made since about the beginning of WW2 also use BSF size spanners. This includes all those used on Landrovers.

Do not confuse Whitworth fasteners with NC or UNC, the American or unified Imperial threads. These use the same number of threads per inch as Whitworth in most sizes you are likely to encounter except 1/2", but the thread form is sufficiently different that using bolt and nut from the two is only acceptable if you wear your striped apron. NC and UNC were not, as far as I am aware, used anywhere on any Landrover, but some may have found their way in over the years, despite their being fairly rare in this country.

Then you will occasionally encounter really weird combinations - for example, the Warn free wheel hubs on my 2a are attached by BSF bolts (anything that screws into a Series hub is) - but they have 9/16" AF heads, and are unobtainable. I had to make a couple of replacements!

John