Stu 1986 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave1360 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 They're definitely 1/2" AF on the Herald and the catalogues suggest the Vitesse is the same. Seems strange that nothing fits though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6 M Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 got a vernier, then measure it, andM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted April 18, 2016 Author Share Posted April 18, 2016 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 Has someone sometime somehow fitted Whitworth nuts. That would explain the odd size.Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb5964 Posted April 18, 2016 Share Posted April 18, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 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! 🤔 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Flexney Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6 M Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 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 nutsOR, 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 lathA 1/2 will ..just squeeze on, a 13 mm fits okbutt,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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmetalhead82 Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 . 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 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teddyedward Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyf Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esxefi Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 stu you need a set of these,....http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like.....id%253D1017137800857 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted April 19, 2016 Author Share Posted April 19, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny-Jimbo Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 I'm not sure how much 'shove' you could get on one of those spanners before it rounds. Never used one myself, just pondering. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casper Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 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=2C. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicmk1est Posted April 20, 2016 Share Posted April 20, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stu 1986 Posted April 21, 2016 Author Share Posted April 21, 2016 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piman Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidb5964 Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 Suggest the tappet thread would be a lot harder than the adjusting nuts so hopefully only stretched them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daver clasper Posted April 22, 2016 Share Posted April 22, 2016 HiHave 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpeg.b15b81ef10abeea1c3039ae03c4a9f3a.jpeg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.