Vitesse Tappets Trouble

[Stu 1986]

Hello Chaps,
Firstly, I feel really stupid posting this but I am stumped. I took the rocker cover off my Vitesse Mk2 Engine yesterday to adjust the tappets as they need doing, but couldn't even get one done.

Problem I have is no spanner I have fits the lock nut on the rockers. I've tried them in both imperial and metric and nothing fits. I've tried different makes of spanner too, Britool, Teng Tools, Snap On as well as some unbranded ones. The nuts are in good shape and none are rounded, am I missing something? Is there a special sized spanner for these?

Thanks In Advance,
Stu.

[Dave1360]

They're definitely 1/2" AF on the Herald and the catalogues suggest the Vitesse is the same.  Seems strange that nothing fits though.

[GT6 M]

got a vernier, then measure it,

              and



M

[Nick Jones]

The adjuster threads are 5/16" UNF and from the factory they are fitted with 5/16" half nuts which are 1/2" A/F with 13mm also being and acceptable if slightly slacker fit.

Nick

[Stu 1986]

No way will any 1/2 spanners go on, and a 13mm just threatens to round the heads. I'll try and get pictures tomorrow if I can. This is weird!

[nang]

Has someone sometime somehow fitted Whitworth nuts. That would explain the odd size.
Tony.

[davidb5964]

pitch on 5/16 unf is 0.04167 and bsf is 0.0454 whit is 0.0556 so if the have used either, the nut threads will be a bit stretched but it could well be what has happened.
Thank you Zeus book!
Dave

[Stu 1986]

OK I've been out this morning and taken a quick photo of the rocker gear and of the 1/2 spanner not fitting the nuts.

It always seems to be the way when I set out to do a quick 20 minute job on the car, it turns into a massive saga! 🤔

[Jonny-Jimbo]

Stu - first off I would always use a ring spanner on the lock nuts, just for the better location and less likely to slip and round. Although I guess you may have used an open spanner to show the size issue.

Off the top of my head the nuts look about right. What's the difference between a 1/2 and a 9/16? Will the half not fit at all and the 9/16 not even purchase?

[Stu 1986]

Quoted from Jonny-Jimbo

Although I guess you may have used an open spanner to show the size issue.

Correct! + 10 Points! 😎

A 1/2 ring spanned won't go on, a 9/16 spins around freely. a 13mm grips slightly but won't grip effectively and will ruin the nut whereas a 14mm is way too big.

WTF!!  

As an additional the 9/16 fits the nut holding the rocker shaft down perfectly, and you can see in the photo there is a slight size difference.

[Andy Flexney]

I would have thought a 13mm open ended spanner would fit.

I would not mess around and either take all the nuts off using an adjustable spanner and replace or make one of my spanners into a "special" tool that is only used for this adjustment.

AndyF

[Stu 1986]

Although I should be getting ready for work, I went out and got one off using my Teng Tools Mole Grips. I'm now going to order a new set from Canleys, and hopefully they will go on with the correct tool. Best not to mess around and have the right stuff fitted.

Thanks Chaps!

[GT6 M]

It may well be some bod,e has run a UNF tap,
thru a BSF nut, as thee,s nuts are just aboot what ye describe.

Butt, they look normal in the pics.

other optionee is as Andy says, ora Metrinch spanner.
they seem to fit evry  thing thats odd too,, inc rounded nuts
OR, tek off an fit new nuts,


Just been int shed and eda measure wid spanners, 1/2  an 13 mm on the BSF nuts on me lath

A 1/2 will ..just squeeze on, a 13 mm fits ok
butt,I got some odd BSF nuts ina oddments tin, and some of them nuts, and bolt heeds are bigger,
than them ont lathe.

Edit, been int shed alott longer than thowt, Stus posted 20 mins +ago,!!!


M

[oldmetalhead82]

.

It always seems to be the way when I set out to do a quick 20 minute job on the car, it turns into a massive saga! 🤔 [/quote] You are not alone Stu, it happens to me all the time !

[Teddyedward]

But isnt this the joy of working on classics and at least you seem to have a comprehensive tool kit to work on it. I wonder how many of us have them insured though as I have just realised my garage isnt covered by my home insurance!

[garyf]

Quoted from oldmetalhead82

.

It always seems to be the way when I set out to do a quick 20 minute job on the car, it turns into a massive saga! 🤔

You are not alone Stu, it happens to me all the time !

[/quote]


Me Too!

[esxefi]

stu you need a set of these,....

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like.....id%253D1017137800857

[Stu 1986]

Quoted from esxefi

stu you need a set of these,...

They do look good those!
Hopefully the new nuts will arrive tomorrow and I can get this 20 minute job, which is now up to about 60 hours, finished.

Also on Thursday I will be visiting my local cycle shop to have a new accelerator cable made from some high quality bike cable. Only because the brand new replacement snapped.

[Jonny-Jimbo]

I'm not sure how much 'shove' you could get on one of those spanners before it rounds. Never used one myself, just pondering.

[Casper]

Quoted from Jonny-Jimbo

I'm not sure how much 'shove' you could get on one of those spanners before it rounds. Never used one myself, just pondering.

Plenty, because they drive on the flanks of the hex, not just on the corners.

http://www.metrinch-tools.com/website/introductie.php?subnr=2

C.

[nicmk1est]

you dont get rounded nuts if you use a 6 sided spanner,that goes for 6 sided sockets aswel,,far far better them these new funky spanners

[Stu 1986]

Just thought I'd update you on this.

My new nuts arrived today and I was able to finally get my tappets adjusted. So I started this job at 10:00 on Sunday morning and completed it at 17:45 today, the longest 20 minute job I've ever done.

I had found in the intervening time a set of BSF spanners someone gave me, I suddenly remembered I had them as this issue ran around my head in the background. I found one the right size and got the nuts off and replaced them with the new 1/2 UNF nuts from Canleys.

Tell you what though, I'm glad I did adjust them! They really needed it, a lot quieter now!!

I've put a photo of the new nut on top of the old one. You can just about make out the old one being slightly bigger, I'd love to know what the thinking was behind using BSF nuts when it was done.  

[piman]

Hello Stu,

were the new nuts tight on the old adjusting screws, as I'd anticipated that using 5/16" BSF nuts on 5/16" UNF threads would distort them?

Alec

[davidb5964]

Suggest the tappet thread would be a lot harder than the adjusting nuts so hopefully only stretched them.

[daver clasper]

Hi

Have never read anywhere, about how tight the locking nuts should be.

I always do them quite tight, but would rather not if no need ?.

thanks, Dave