British standard

So can anyone school me on these? I just picked up a set of BS snap on wrenches. I'm going to prove my ignorance here and ask what tractor I need to use them on?

The sign of a true tractor nut, buying tools, then get a tractor to use them on. ; o)

A TEA20 Ferguson?

Just guessing, never knew there was such a thing as British Standard tools. They're inch fraction, right? So inches are measured different across the pond? What is the difference?

British tractors that I am aware of are Fordson Dexta, Fordson Major, David Brown, and Leyland. AFIK they all used SAE fastners, but I'm willing to be corrected by the experts. Someone restoring antique British cars could use them possibly, but I know next to nothing about them. Some textile machinery has been imported fairly recently that used BS. Other than that I don't know.

KEH

I remember some English wrenches that came in 1/16" and even 1/32" increments. If you work on English tractors, you may find uses for some of them, especially around starters, generators, etc.

Some of the old vintage motorcycles used BS fasteners, too.

British (Whitworth) sizes are measured by the diameter of the shank of the bolt not the size of the head of the bolt. A 3/4" Whitworth is huge compared to a 3/4" SAE.

For example this wrench says 5/16 on it. With a tape it reads 9/16. Never knew such a thing existed.

OK, I see now, I can read 3/8 on the one 2nd from right, guess it's really a 9/16. Learned something new! Thanks

This is an easy to read and straightforward explanation . Ferguson tractors started out with English Whitworth sized fasteners then moved to AF for the US market .

http://www.ebay.com.au/gds/Understanding-Whitworth-BSF-AF-BA-and-metric-tools-/10000000003499809/g.html

Land Rover, Rolls Royce, Bentley and maybe Truimph, MG and Austin/Austin Healey Spitfires (Aircraft) and some Mustangs (again aircraft) maybe an occasional OLD Nuffield or David Brown. IRRC the Whitworth or British standard was phased out years ago so it's mostly older stuff. Britain started phasing out their standard earlier trying to align their equipment with the rest of Europe.

Friend of our family served in World War II, he was an aircraft crew chief on fighters in England. After I joined the Air Force I got to hear some of his war stories pretty regularly. He started out crewing a P-39 Aircobra, but that was phased out and he got a Mustang with an Allison engine and then eventually a newer Mustang with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it. The Merlin engine required Whitworth wrenches, he didn't have any and neither did base supply. He hatched a plan and got himself a pass then caught a train to a nearby city and bought his own WW wrenches. Satisfied that he could now service his airplane he stopped in a pub for a pint or two. He claims sitting on the stool in the pub he didn't realize he was watching the last train of the day back to the air field depart. It was the next day before he got back to camp and there was heck to pay, phrases like AWOL and Busted to Private were bantered about. Eventually he explained to the old man "it's not my fault I went to town to get some stupid wrenches to work on your stupid airplane with the stupid Merlin engine" He claims at that point the old man calmed down and said "Tom that was sure nice of you" and nothing more was ever said. Talking to Tom about his plane 60 years later he would still get wound up, see his bird was the cleanest flying, highest time bird in the squadron. He'd get excited about the one aborted mission he had with his plane and sixty years later he'd still complain the abort happened when some other fella was flying it, not the regular guy and "I think he broke it so he didn't have to fly". Tom been gone 16 years now and I sure do miss him I regret I was never able to get him in a room with my Father in law who was a WWII vintage Bomber Crew Dog.

Some are close to our wrench sizes for same size bolt, some are not. Head on a 3/8 BSW bolt is bigger than a 9/16, smaller than a 5/8

Awesome story! The contractor I used to work for is almost complete on building a P51 replica. Brand new corvette crate motor in it. Wed tease him "what kind of doughnuts do you like" wed say ze plane boss ze plain.

Oh. I doubt I'll be getting a RR or a Bentley soon. Anyone interested in buying them? Too nice to sit here forever.

Yet to be determined. 5/16 of what? A British inch would be like 13/16 or 3/4? No wonder we had a revolution!

(quoted from post at 22:51:29 03/09/15) Yet to be determined. 5/16 of what? A British inch would be like 13/16 or 3/4? No wonder we had a revolution!

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The whitworth system is part of the reason the Brits were on top of the world at the turn of the last century... Standardization.

5/8" Whitworth bolt will take a 1" SAE wrench but it is very tight.

a 7/16" Whit bolt will take a 18mm, but is a touch loose.

Those wrenches for go nicely with my 1957 DB 900. Up to this point I have been getting by with improvised tools.

Terminal jam brass nut on an old Lucas starter.. had me stumped till I figured out it was 3/8 BS.

BSW: British standard weird

That email thing does not work for me . Yes I am interested in buying them . Please let me know how much you want.

British Standard used the size of the bolt diameter for the wrench size unlike SAE and metric using the head of the bolt for the wrench size.
yes they were used on many British cars trucks motorcycles and tractors
Ypop

I'll start the bidding at $50...

(quoted from post at 08:47:29 03/10/15) I'll start the bidding at $50...

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I'll go 50, does that include shipping?. My last job was a machinist for vintage Lotus race cars. I cut a lot of threads adapting things to bsf, bs, whitworth, 2 metric sytems and united national.

That was my bid, I'll offer $50 plus postage...

So what I am getting is BS is actually BSW which is Whitworth.

I replied to your email. Im at [email protected] if that works better.

I amnot sure what the etiquette is here on this forum. Is this an auction, or does the guy who spoke up first get it?

5/16ths BS is 1/4 Whitworth.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KING-DICK-ENGLAND-1-4-WHITWORTH-COMBINATION-SPANNER-5-16-BS-CSW204-/131203557760

Dr sportster asked me first but hasn't emailed me
back. I should give him first chance but feel free
to make an offer.

(quoted from post at 04:21:24 03/11/15) Dr sportster asked me first but hasn't emailed me
back. I should give him first chance but feel free
to make an offer.

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Ok , email sent