Spanners

[Gerald-TVR]

I'm going to treat myself to some new sockets but do I only need metric for the S2? Dont want to buy A/F if I dont need them and from your experiences do I need any unuasual sizes? Is there any particular brand recommended?

Thanks in advance

Edited by Gerald-TVR on Saturday 12th April 08:27

[tvrgit]

Almost everything is metric. Some of the suspension bush bolts are UNC or UNF but I did mine with the nearest metric size (gasps of horror from the purists!). There are a few unusual sockets - the rear hub nut for example - but I would buy that one socket when I needed it, not a massive set of sockets normally used by the Army to take the axles off Scammells.

As for makes, in general you get what you pay for. Cheap sets can do more damage than good, while the most expensive sets are much much better but do they warrant the cost? I bought an expensive set of Facom spanners, hugely more expensive than Draper etc, but they are excellent on even the tightest and rustiest bolts, because they fit perfectly. The cost was worth it for one job alone - changing the exhaust manifolds without snapping any bolts.

For my more "normal" use though, the likes of Halfords Professional range are very good IMHO, so are Draper, Clarke, that kind of price range.

ETA I just realised that some of my stuff is over 30 years old and still working perfectly. Wish I could say the same about me...

Edited by tvrgit on Saturday 12th April 08:52

[clarenceboddiger]

Have a mooch aroud your local car boot sales for old AF stuff, Draper ,Gedore makes etc can usually be picked up for a pittance, ie 10p-20p per spanner. As tvrgit says though a good quality metric set is worth every penny, they dont sell spanners to fit rounded off bolt heads.
ps in AF main sizes are 7/16 1/2 9/16 11/16 3/4 there arent that many of the other sizes Ive ever needed.

Edited by clarenceboddiger on Saturday 12th April 09:07

[tvrgit]

clarenceboddiger said:

...they dont sell spanners to fit rounded off bolt heads.

They do actually!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Bolt-Grip-Remover-Ex...

And they work! (Don't ask me how I know this...

[Gerald-TVR]

Thanks I was amased when i went through my tool box yesterday to find metric. a/f, BSF, SAE, British Gas, witworth and some with no sizes like BSA with four open ended spanners in one. That was from my dad who bought it for his pushbike in about 1925!

[Gerald-TVR]

tvrgit said:

clarenceboddiger said:

...they dont sell spanners to fit rounded off bolt heads.

They do actually!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Irwin-Bolt-Grip-Remover-Ex...

And they work! (Don't ask me how I know this...

Did you buy them on the way back from casuality when you have your knucles dressed??

Edited by Gerald-TVR on Saturday 12th April 09:14

[merky300]

Make sure the sockets act on the flats rather than the corners. I haven't rounded off a single nut or bolt since upgrading, they even remove previously rounded and rusted up bolts. BTW Britool 1/2" set and Blue-Point 3/8" set, I would recommend either.

Tony

[tvrgit]

merky300 said:

Make sure the sockets act on the flats rather than the corners. I haven't rounded off a single nut or bolt since upgrading, they even remove previously rounded and rusted up bolts. BTW Britool 1/2" set and Blue-Point 3/8" set, I would recommend either.

Tony

Very good point.

[Gerald-TVR]

Been out bought some metric sockets from machine Mart 1/4" drive 4 to 13 and 1/2 drive 10 to 19 all of which work on the flats. I've got open/ring spanners covering 6 to 26 mm. Do you think that covers most requirements and do I need to get some deep (long) sockets. And I've bought a new torque wrench 28 - 210 Nm. Can I put my cheque book away now?

[merky300]

I have never used deep sockets as often as I do on the TVR. TVR seem to have used whatever length bolt were to hand usually to long so the deep sockets see quite a bit of use. They also give you a few more options in tight spots. Well worth buying a set.

Tony

[Gerald-TVR]

Thanks Tony