Wot, no BSF???

[cardiffrob]

My usual Nut-n-bolt man has finally let me down. I went there for some BSF nuts and bolts plus some half inch 2BA dome-headed, phillips, countersunk stainless setscrews. Not only could he not fulfill the requirement but he said that he had nothing even remotely close. "Nobody sells 'em anymore. Can you re-tap them to Metric, mate?"

Yup, the Golden Age of Engineering is over!



I don't suppose anyone here has any of those setscrews, do they? For holding the trafficators on the Morris Minor. I'll need about 30 for the whole car. Where else should I try?

PS The spellchecker here offers "Fornicators" as an option for trafficator. Weird!

 

[piman]

Hello Rob,

this supplier lists these:- http://www.gwr-fasteners.co.uk/2ba-raised-countersunk-screws---stainless-35067-p.asp

Alec

 

[Pete.]

I feel your pain. I'm rebuilding a machine that uses Whitworth fasteners almost exclusively - some of them left hand!

Today I'm making Whitworth fasteners

 

[Richie mac]

Hiya Rob

My local stockists may be able to help if you have no luck last time I was in there she said she was winding her business down after Christmas after her husband died & only opens mornings till midday on Tuesdays Thursdays & Friday's so you might need to be quick but they've always been pretty good. Superior stainless are in Essex on 01375 644744 hopefully they can help ya

 

[MattF]

I feel your pain. I'm rebuilding a machine that uses Whitworth fasteners almost exclusively - some of them left hand!

Today I'm making Whitworth fasteners

It is getting that way with Imperial stuff nowadays. It's not so much the lack of availability of the stuff anymore, (judging from what I've been told), but merely the reticence of a lot of suppliers to source something which they may not sell much of. My local hardware place has been telling me for years that when their existing stock is gone it's gone. Must be about twenty years they've been saying that.

Bapp & Sheffield Nut & Bolt are two which are worth a shout just to ask.

 

[Pete.]

Clerkenwell Screws have never let me down I once got a M12 x 1 LH nut off them over the counter. I think they must have a screw machine out back because no-one would ever stock that size.

 

[zx9]

I have bought a lot of imperial fastners for the old Rangie from http://www.imperialnutsandbolts.com/ untill 4th Jan they are doing 20% off with the discount code
WINTERSALE20

 

[zx9]

Clerkenwell Screws have never let me down I once got a M12 x 1 LH nut off them over the counter. I think they must have a screw machine out back because no-one would ever stock that size.

Clarkenwell have got me out of trouble many times when working in Central London / West End bit difficult to park out side though.

 

[cardiffrob]

Thanks, guys.
Just a quick thought, would Morris have had access to 10-32 unf back in 1949? Fairly close to 2BA unf .190/32tpi, 2ba .180/33-and-a-bit). I know the chrome trim is held on with 2BA but maybe 10-32 could get me out of trouble. God bless you, Zeus booklet!

 

[Shox Dr]

The local go to fixings and fastener company closed it doors last week, I forgot about it and turned up to get some UNC bolts to find a 28yd skip outside 2 foot deep in nuts, bolts, brackets, hinges, you name it it was been scrapped.
Tragic

 

[MattF]

Just a quick thought, would Morris have had access to 10-32 unf back in 1949?

UNC & UNF was the wartime compromise on thread between the US and UK if I recall correctly, so yes. It's basically Whitworth with a 60degree pitch instead of a 55degree pitch, as far as I remember.

 

[mechman]

Pete
If you don't mind me asking, what kind of machine are you working on. The reason I ask is the Petters PH2 engine in my dumper is all imperial and the spares supplier says they keep it that way as so many were exported it keeps the ID of thread right (Unless someone as ad hocked it of course)
Norm

 

[Pete.]

It's a Jones & Shipman 540 surface grinder. A very early model 1940's I'm guessing.

 

[Cobbler]

Hi Rob,
GR fasteners in Stonehouse Glos keep some, if you want to give them a call & see if they can help, I could pop in get & post to you if required.

Edit, I seem to recall I read an article saying that Morris were changing to UNF back in the late 30s. The '55 series 2 minor I had years ago had a mixture, mainly UNF & UNC but some odd Whitworth headed bolts on the engine timing cover.

 

[mechman]

It's a Jones & Shipman 540 surface grinder. A very early model 1940's I'm guessing.

Thanks Pete

 

[piman]

Hello Cobbler,

Morris bought a French engine manufacturer (Hotchkiss?) in the 30s, and made their engines for his cars which had metric threads and Whitworth heads. The Issigonis Morris Minor had Whitworth fasteners for the body and running gear and Unified fasteners for the engine, gearbox and final drive.

Alec

 

[Cobbler]

Hello Cobbler,

Morris bought a French engine manufacturer (Hotchkiss?) in the 30s, and made their engines for his cars which had metric threads and Whitworth heads. The Issigonis Morris Minor had Whitworth fasteners for the body and running gear and Unified fasteners for the engine, gearbox and final drive.

Alec

Ah, thanks for that Piman. I recall reading that now, metric, not UN in the 30s. The series 2 nuts & bolts on the suspension were AF headed as I recall, can't recall the threads though. Long time ago (over 45 years) just recall one or two bolts on the timing cover were 1/4 whit headed for some reason when the rest were 7/16 AF headed. This was the same on the 948 lump. That was BMC for you.

 

[Spark plug]

Try Items mail order ltd:

tel:0142720848880

They do all sorts of odd ball fasteners I've used them in the past for some 16BA cheese head screws. Very good service but like there old fashiond stock list that don't have a web site.

 

[ukracer]

The local go to fixings and fastener company closed it doors last week, I forgot about it and turned up to get some UNC bolts to find a 28yd skip outside 2 foot deep in nuts, bolts, brackets, hinges, you name it it was been scrapped.
Tragic

Why night sell it to people sho could use it .....

 

[brightspark]

- u can get most imperial nuts and -bolts easily if u want to pay the price .-in stainless steel though