ML10 spanners

[RobinParticipant @robin]

Missing spanner

[RobinParticipant @robin]

There are some bolts on my ML10 I do not have a spanner for and I feel it is time to get one.

The change wheel quadrant has one at the bottom.

The clamps that tie the head stock to the bed use them.

It is too big for 13mm but 14mm is a loose fit so it must be one of those whacky British things and I am lost. Somewhere between 1/2" and 7/16".

Is 17/32" (13.5mm) in anyway sensible? If I type 17/32" spanner in to eBay it laughs at me. My search for 13.5mm was equally derided.

Someone must know.

[Swarf, Mostly!Participant @swarfmostly]

Robin,

The rule for Beeston Myford lathes is that threads smaller than ¼" are B.A. and all those ¼" or bigger are BSF. That was the British Standards Institute recommendations at the time.

To identify the spanners you need, I suggest that you search on-line for a comprehensive thread table for B.S.F threads that includes the across flats sizes (preferably in inches! ) for the nuts and bolt heads.

I'd go and check my ML7 but the interior of my workshop is currently above melting point!!

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

It could be 1/4" Whitworth or 5/16" BSF. Both are 13.3mm across flats.

The confusion arises because Whitworth specifies spanners using bolt diameter not the more obvious Across Flats. Later, BSF were specified with hex-heads one size smaller and to save material during WW2, most Whitworth bolts were made with BSF heads.

Why not buy a cheap set and see which fits.  Wikipedia has a table of hex head sizes about half way down their Whitworth entry.

Dave

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 09/07/2018 17:02:01

[RedsetterParticipant @redsetter]

It is 5/16 BSF.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

It is most likely to be a Whitworth/Bsf size,very unlikely to be an American A/F size. Do you not have a set of Whitworth spanners ?,they still come in handy on old machines.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

You won't normally find Whitworth spanners listed by the A/F dimensions, they are listed and marked according to the thread size.

Search for a 1/4" Whitworth spanner, it's 0.525" A/F.

Neil

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

The spanners that came with my ML10 new were 3/8 W x 5/16 W, 1/4 W x 3/16 W. You will; need an Imperial set of Allen keys plus a very small one of 50 thou. which is used for adjusting the clearance on the lead screw half nuts (done from underneath)

Clive

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

Just looked on that site with everything for Whitworth spanners and there are loads, one offer has an hour to go.

Might be worth a look.

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

Just remembered I have quite a collection of spanners,some new,some old,some very old.

Among the very old ones are a number marked Ford A/F. No idea where they came from because we never had a car,but I can remember seeing them around the house when I was ever so small.They did not have a shiny finish,like most new spanners,nothing more than black paint,worn away,mostly,but the steel in them was first class.I still use them as they fit a few odd sizes around my workshop. I have a few others with no name,so I,ve no idea where they were made,but again,good stuff in them,better than some of the crappy junk around now.

Anyone else find this?.

[RobinParticipant @robin]

Whitworth by Jove! Well done indeed. A 1/4" x 3/16" BSW has been ordered. If it fits I will have to wait for something more Myford looking to turn up, it's a bit on the shiny side.

I also seem to be missing all my old Allen Keys including the truncated key that separates the pulleys from the back gear on the spindle. If it's an unknown size I can probably fetch it out using gas pliers

[Jim GuthrieParticipant @jimguthrie82658]

Robin,

I answered a similar question about a year ago.

"The two open ended spanners supplied with the plain bearing ML10 were

1/4"BSW:5/16"BSF + 3/16"BSW:1/4"BSF

5/16"BSW:3/8"BSF + 3/8"BSW:7/16" BSF"

Jim

[JohnFParticipant @johnf59703]

Hi Robin, have not read all the posts but look here on Wiki for a complete table of Whitworth spanner sizes, also some interesting historical facts.

**LINK**

Also Silverline do sets of spanners for around £12.

John

Ha! I see Dave has already said this !

Edited By JohnF on 09/07/2018 22:21:06

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Any English made machine of the vintage of a ML2, ML4 or ML7 is likely to have Whitworth form threads. BSW if a coarse thread, BSF if fine, with BA possibly for smaller sizes, and certainly for electrical terminals etc.

Later Myfords may well have started using metric hardware.

Hardware with Imperial A/F hexagons will be SAE or Unified threads. Metric hardware be should be Metric A/F hexagon sizes.

From time to time you come across oddballs.

The thread may be Unified or Metric form, but be a finer than standard pitch, such UNEF, or 10 x1 or 12 x 1.

Examples: A Bristol RE bus with a Gardner engine (using Whitworth form hardware as standard) retained the clutch to the flywheel with 3/8 BSF bolts with 5/8 A/F heads!

The BMC A Series engine used 1/8 BSP threads in the Rocker Arms, with 7/16 A/F locknuts, to adjust the Valve clearances.

It pays to check.

Howard

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