Jump to content

Featured Posts

Posted

Age and model. I bet the Canalstars and Alphas are metric, slightly earlier ones possibly AF (UNF & UNC) but traditional big Listers are probably BSF/Whit. I think our SLs were AF (UNF & UNC). Could well be wrong but as long as the spanner is a proper fit I don't see it matters what size is on it.

Posted (edited)

No, not on your SR. You want AF spanners. Except on the fuel pipes which are to pipe thread sizes, which are sort of Whit

 

You'll find you can get away with a Metric set

 

Richard

Edited by RLWP
Posted

Mine is such a confusion of parts that some are imperial, some are metric, some AF and some Whitworth.  I've given up even trying to sort out what is what and, as above, just use anything that fits. I've got a nice collection of spanners that say "Lister" on them which I tend to try first just for the sake of it, then give up and go for something else.

Posted

Is this a "currant" topic?

 

(See, you may think this is an off topic play on words, but I'd suggest that, notwithstanding the quip re the well-known dried fruit producer, it's a useful pointer that the topic title is a bit vague and won't help the Lister folk searching for advice about correct spanner sizes in the  future.  Finding any old spanner that seems to fit is a recipe for rounding off the nuts or bolts, so it's undoubtedly a very sensible question the answer to which is worth preserving). :P

Posted
25 minutes ago, Sea Dog said:

Is this a "currant" topic?

 

(See, you may think this is an off topic play on words, but I'd suggest that, notwithstanding the quip re the well-known dried fruit producer, it's a useful pointer that the topic title is a bit vague and won't help the Lister folk searching for advice about correct spanner sizes in the  future.  Finding any old spanner that seems to fit is a recipe for rounding off the nuts or bolts, so it's undoubtedly a very sensible question the answer to which is worth preserving). :P

You think it might be about the great Joseph Whitworth?

 

Richard

Posted
10 hours ago, RLWP said:

No, not on your SR. You want AF spanners. Except on the fuel pipes which are to pipe thread sizes, which are sort of Whit

 

You'll find you can get away with a Metric set

 

Richard

That is not my expeience Richard, there are a couple of sizes which are as near a damn it identical, a couple more that are close, and the rest do not fit comfortably enough to avoid slipping, especially if the nuts have been abused in the past. I have spanners in all sizes metric, AF, Wihitworth, BA,  and some odd sized cycle thread spanners.

Posted
9 hours ago, David Schweizer said:

That is not my expeience Richard, there are a couple of sizes which are as near a damn it identical, a couple more that are close, and the rest do not fit comfortably enough to avoid slipping, especially if the nuts have been abused in the past. I have spanners in all sizes metric, AF, Wihitworth, BA,  and some odd sized cycle thread spanners.

My thoughts exactly - though I do confess that, as a properly trained Engineer, I have rather a thing about the right sized spanner!  A good Whitworth set isn't in everyone's toolbox though, so I can see the temptation, but the right answer is to source the right tools - which is what the OP is trying to do. (That said, in practice, RLWP and Tony will have satisfied Pareto's Principle and I certainly bow to their knowledge of Listers). At least no-one has suggested an adjustable... yet! :D

 

 

  • Greenie 1
Posted

To slightly confuse things:

A/F spanners, for middle aged Listers  (UNF/UNC) sizes are often described as "Imperial" spanners by current suppliers and still widely available from the usual sources.

To me, Imperial  properly describes Whitworth/BSF  as found on super-annuated Listers, Kelvins etc. These sizes are a bit  more specialist now and more expensive.

I have a set of combination A/Fs  badged RS (RS components) they are identical to Britool and have served me well for many years.

Bill

Posted
22 hours ago, Phil Ambrose said:

As Tony says, just use a spanner that fits.

Phil

The only spanner that fits is the correct one!

2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

At least no-one has suggested an adjustable... yet! :D

Otherwise known as un clef anglais or a nut-rounder?

Posted

Please do not misquote me. Two people have now done so. I said a spanner that is a proper fit - not one that is near enough. I also not the OP has failed to answer my question about engine model etc. Without that information the only answer we can give is the answer I gave. A spanner that is a proper fit.

Posted
14 minutes ago, Tony Brooks said:

Please do not misquote me. Two people have now done so. I said a spanner that is a proper fit - not one that is near enough. I also not the OP has failed to answer my question about engine model etc. Without that information the only answer we can give is the answer I gave. A spanner that is a proper fit.

I'm in a privileged position as we have been supplying the OP with parts for his Lister SR2

 

Richard

Posted
2 hours ago, Sea Dog said:

At least no-one has suggested an adjustable... yet! :D

Well now you have brought up the topic, what are your thoughts on water pump pliers? :D

 

28 minutes ago, Machpoint005 said:

Otherwise known as un clef anglais or a nut-rounder?

Close, but not quite! :D

 

Posted
1 minute ago, TheBiscuits said:

Well now you have brought up the topic, what are your thoughts on water pump pliers? :D

 

A necessary evil

Posted (edited)
7 minutes ago, RLWP said:

A necessary evil

I meant for use on random nuts.  A strap round the handles allows you to grip tightly and apply more torque ... or holds the chunk of 2x3 for extra leverage!

 

 

Edited by TheBiscuits
Posted
5 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

I meant for use on random nuts.  A strap round the handles allows you to grip tightly and apply more torque ... or holds the chunk of 2x3 for extra leverage!

 

 

Yes, I see...

 

No, no way - never!

 

Richard

Posted
16 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

Well now you have brought up the topic, what are your thoughts on water pump pliers?

 

 

That they're good for water pumps?

8 minutes ago, TheBiscuits said:

I meant for use on random nuts.

Not heard of that system before -- is it American, Imperial or metric?

  • Haha 1
Posted
1 minute ago, Machpoint005 said:

 

Not heard of that system before -- is it American, Imperial or metric?

That's funny, they seem to be very common on old boat engines

  • Greenie 1
Posted
1 minute ago, Machpoint005 said:

Not heard of that system before -- is it American, Imperial or metric?

It's an all inclusive system - it fits any of the known types just as well as the others.

 

It also works best with those really cheap pliers - they shear at the hinge if you overtighten the strap!

 

(Note I don't recommend this method, but it's great fun to watch the hipsters doing it while someone else is painting the inside of the boat with white gloss ...)

Posted
3 hours ago, billh said:

To slightly confuse things:

A/F spanners, for middle aged Listers  (UNF/UNC) sizes are often described as "Imperial" spanners by current suppliers and still widely available from the usual sources.

To me, Imperial  properly describes Whitworth/BSF  as found on super-annuated Listers, Kelvins etc. These sizes are a bit  more specialist now and more expensive.

I have a set of combination A/Fs  badged RS (RS components) they are identical to Britool and have served me well for many years.

Bill

I have metric, AF and Imperial (BSW/BSF) spanners.

 

BSW/BSF spanners can often be bought at boot fairs, just choose reputable makes (I like Britool, King Dick etc but each will have theire preference) and look for ones in good condition. They are generally cheap when bought this way.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.