34 replies to this topic

[giles_g]

Only owned the car two weeks Saturday so barely had the chance to familiarize myself with my car lol

Right then, some simply advise - get yourself some 3/8ths Imperial sockets, a set of Imperial spanners and some good screwdrivers. You'll need them.

A socket set would be as much use to me as a chocolate tea pot. While I know what engine parts look like I really only know basic stuff. This is why I'm paying a mechanic to come and do mot retest work today.

[KernowCooper]

The original size of the clamp nuts were 1/4 Whitworth but depending on the spanner 5/16 AF or 13MM can be forced to fit.

[giles_g]

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

[Spider]

The original size of the clamp nuts were 1/4 Whitworth but depending on the spanner 5/16 AF or 13MM can be forced to fit.

 

I was going to post up much the same.

 

Whitworth Spanners are a size system of their own, they are not AF or Metric, but I think there's a metric one that close.

 

Or after undoing them, get some UNC Nuts on them, then AF Spanners fit.

[Mini Manannán]

We used to use an old 14mm on our Villiers gearboxes, they are Whitworth.

[Batmini]

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

I always refer to adjustable spanners as the perfect bolt/nut rounding-off tool. Get a selection of spanners as said, and find which one fits PROPERLY. In my opinion, adjustable spanners are emergency tools only.

(Gets off soap-box)

[Spider]

 

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

I always refer to adjustable spanners as the perfect bolt/nut rounding-off tool. Get a selection of spanners as said, and find which one fits PROPERLY. In my opinion, adjustable spanners are emergency tools only.

(Gets off soap-box)

 

 

Mmmmmmmm,,,,,yes. One size rounds all.

[giles_g]

The original size of the clamp nuts were 1/4 Whitworth but depending on the spanner 5/16 AF or 13MM can be forced to fit.

 
I was going to post up much the same.
 
Whitworth Spanners are a size system of their own, they are not AF or Metric, but I think there's a metric one that close.
 
Or after undoing them, get some UNC Nuts on them, then AF Spanners fit.

Again back to the chocolate tea pot thing, very useful if you know what you're doing..

[giles_g]

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

I always refer to adjustable spanners as the perfect bolt/nut rounding-off tool. Get a selection of spanners as said, and find which one fits PROPERLY. In my opinion, adjustable spanners are emergency tools only.
(Gets off soap-box)

 
Mmmmmmmm,,,,,yes. One size rounds all.

Well that's about as technical as I get I'm afraid !!

[giles_g]

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

I always refer to adjustable spanners as the perfect bolt/nut rounding-off tool. Get a selection of spanners as said, and find which one fits PROPERLY. In my opinion, adjustable spanners are emergency tools only.
(Gets off soap-box)

 
Mmmmmmmm,,,,,yes. One size rounds all.

A set of spanners you're having a laugh !!

Edited by giles_g, 12 May 2016 - 12:49 PM.

[Batmini]

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

I always refer to adjustable spanners as the perfect bolt/nut rounding-off tool. Get a selection of spanners as said, and find which one fits PROPERLY. In my opinion, adjustable spanners are emergency tools only.
(Gets off soap-box)

 
Mmmmmmmm,,,,,yes. One size rounds all.

A set of spanners you're having a laugh !!

Then as anyone with an old car knows, if you can't fix it yourself I hope you have deep pockets brimming with cash.

A half decent set of imperial spanners is about 20 minutes of a standard garage's going rate.

[Icey]

A set of spanners you're having a laugh !!

What are you expecting out of a reply like this? You've bought a Mini, they require significant effort to keep running. That effort can either be your own for which you require some basic tools or someone else's for which you need money (and quite a lot of it).

 

This very thread is proof that even if you only want to do very simple jobs you still require some basic tools (and there's nothing wrong with that, not everyone likes tinkering with cars many just like driving them).  Posting that there's no point in buying any because you don't know how to use them seems like a contradiction - you're already trying to do some work and finding that you need tools.

[giles_g]

Adjustable spanner works fine had a go last night but left it on for mechanic to complete work to mini.

I always refer to adjustable spanners as the perfect bolt/nut rounding-off tool. Get a selection of spanners as said, and find which one fits PROPERLY. In my opinion, adjustable spanners are emergency tools only.
(Gets off soap-box)

 
Mmmmmmmm,,,,,yes. One size rounds all.

A set of spanners you're having a laugh !!

Then as anyone with an old car knows, if you can't fix it yourself I hope you have deep pockets brimming with cash.
A half decent set of imperial spanners is about 20 minutes of a standard garage's going rate.

Very true, and avoid high street garages also !!

[giles_g]

A set of spanners you're having a laugh !!

What are you expecting out of a reply like this? You've bought a Mini, they require significant effort to keep running. That effort can either be your own for which you require some basic tools or someone else's for which you need money (and quite a lot of it).
 
This very thread is proof that even if you only want to do very simple jobs you still require some basic tools (and there's nothing wrong with that, not everyone likes tinkering with cars many just like driving them).  Posting that there's no point in buying any because you don't know how to use them seems like a contradiction - you're already trying to do some work and finding that you need tools.

I'm not expecting anything from this post and obviously being my fourth mini I know it's going to be a money pit, and it's a case of can't not wont !!

[giles_g]

A set of spanners you're having a laugh !!

What are you expecting out of a reply like this? You've bought a Mini, they require significant effort to keep running. That effort can either be your own for which you require some basic tools or someone else's for which you need money (and quite a lot of it).
 
This very thread is proof that even if you only want to do very simple jobs you still require some basic tools (and there's nothing wrong with that, not everyone likes tinkering with cars many just like driving them).  Posting that there's no point in buying any because you don't know how to use them seems like a contradiction - you're already trying to do some work and finding that you need tools.

I'm not expecting anything from this post and obviously being my fourth mini I know it's going to be a money pit, and it's a case of can't not wont !!

And who said I haven't got any basic tools?