Tap & die kits to acquire, Spanner sockets reccs

[ArthurOntheRocks]

Hello All,

New A7 parent. I got my 1929 AD Tourer in August and have yet to buy some real tools to work on the little booger.

I've read there are several different thread pitches used on the A7's and the same goes for spanner sizes.  I'm so confused about what kit I need to actually work on this thing. 

What are the sizes I will need to get the majority of things apart? Is that a full BSA spanner and socket set? Metric too?

Thanks in advance,
V.Anne

[andrew34ruby]

Don't need metric.

You do need spanners and sockets that are BSF  British Standard Fine.

There are also BSW  Whitworth threads on the car, but the same spanners fit.

They are not the same as UNF or UNC   that are AF sizes     you don't need those.

[Hedd_Jones]

There are loads of sets of Whit/BSF combination spanners on ebay at less than 20quid a set. Personally I believe you want two of each size. Genetally younwill need 1/4 and 5/16 whit for 75% of Austin 7 maintainence.

There are also nice whit/BSF sockets on the market at present. Deep and Normal at 3/8 drive. Again wont break the bank.

It is worth buying a large quality 'shifter', for the big stuff like halfshaft nuts etc. You cant go wrong with something like a 15 or 18inch bahco. Find a used one to avoid the need to sell a kidney

But a horrid metric 12mm fits the 1/4 whit stuff perfectly. so find a ratchet combination spanner and hex socket

Taps and dies. There are some obscure threads on a seven. So a threadfile is a must. But generally again 1/4 whit. 1/4 °BSF. 5/16 the same will cover 75% of the fixings. Unless a butcher has been at it

[Stuart Joseph]

I refreshed my tool kit with British Standard Whitworth sockets and open ended and ring spanners from the Seven Workshop. I had bought some ‘snappy jappy’ on line which distorted under load and couldn’t get my money back.

Regards from the creative county - Staffordshire

Stuart

[Robert Leigh]

If you are buying a socket set, for the smaller sizes I recommend 3/8" square drive which are lighter and handier than 1/2" square drive. They are very adequate up to 3/8" threads, or evn 7/16". You will find 1/2" square drive useful for larger sizes, and if you buy a torque wrench most have a 1/2" drive connection. Ever since a good friend recommended the 3/8" drive system I have been grateful to him, having used only 1/2" drive sockets previously. They both have their place and it is therefore useful having both. Experience will soon show which to use where.

[Stuart Giles]

Most threads on A7s are BSF, there are some on the motor which are the coarser BSW -AKA Whitworth threads-. There are some finer than BSF threads on the car too; usually 16 Threads Per Inch (TPI) Whitworth Form -AKA WF- e.g. hubs, radius arms etc. The electrical stuff uses BA (British Association) threads. Whitworth spanners also fit BSF bolts/nuts as said. If your location in Oregon is accurate, Brit Bike specialists should have the stuff you need on your side of the pond.

Finally, UNC threaded fasteners will usually sort of fit Whitworth holes. However, the thread form is different even when the TPI count is the same and the mixed fasteners will never grip with full strength. I ended up discarding pretty much a bucketful of UNC fasteners when I did some work on a repatriated MG T type a while ago.

[Bob Culver]

As above You can do most things with a ring and open ended spanner to cover the very few small sizes, and a larger shifting spanner (Old F spanners open wide and are so cheap can be misused). The stepped style of ring spanner is pleasant to use. A 3/8 drive set certainly speeds work but as with all socket sets the length of the appropriate spanner for low strength and higher tensile threads has to be borne in mind. If you have worked on moderns most threads are far less tight.
In their day, torsion wrenches would be almost unheard of, but many modern souls lack the experience to develop feel.
Sadly some replaceemnt BSF fasteners have UNC/F proportion heads.
And as above 1/4 and 5/16 split dies or die nuts and perhaps 3/8 for wheel studs useful for tidying threads.

["Slack Alice" Simon]

If it isn't original you may find some previous owner has fitted metric or random bolts - so if your BSF/Whitworth spanners don't fit, try AF or metric spanners if you have them.

[Dave Wortley]

I think the threads on the carb bowl of a 26VA sidedraught are 7mm. I am not sure what threads are on the earlier Zenith carb which you should have on your 29.

[ArthurOntheRocks]

Dear all,

Thank you so much! The abbreviations were confusing me, but thank you to those who spelled things out for a noob like me.

I look forward to getting familiar with my new (old) car. I live in California, so ebay/online will certainly be the way I'll be ordering tools. thanks again.