BSW,BS,,AF,BA and metric tool size equivalents.

http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/conversion charts.htm

Baconsdozen imperial and metric tools.

Conversion charts for Whitworth and BSF to mm,af,BA socket and wrench size equivalents etc.
British Standard Whitworth (BSW) takes its name from Whitworth,the British engineer who invented it.It was an early attempt at a standard for threads and spanner sizes.The size marked on a Whitworth or BSF (British Standard Fine) spanner refers to the size of the thread and not the size of the head of the bolt it fits.Whitworth and British Standard Fine were phased out by the 60s,but some manufacturers carried on using it on some applications much later than this.If you are a classic car or motorcycle enthusiast you'll come across Whitworth and BSF sooner or later..(and the hole in the bottom of your new camera is almost certainly tapped 1/4 inch whitworth) Whitworth thread is coarser than BSF, but the same spanners are used,they are often marked with both Whit and BSF sizes .A whitworth spanner is larger than a BSF so 1/4 inch whit is for example the same size as a 5/16inch BSF.(approx 13.34mm),this occurs throught the sizes so a set of whitworth sockets or spanners will fit an equal number of BSF nuts and bolts. BA are small sized fastenings found on older vehicles electrical fittings,magnetos,dynamos,motors,pumps and instruments etc. AF means across flats,and indicates the distance apart the jaws are on an open end wrench in fractions of an inch.Usually the smallest increments are 1/16 inch but some smaller spanners are marked in 1/32 inch increments.Very rarely af spanners are marked in decimal instead of fractional sizes for example .50 instead of 1/2 or 75 instead of 3/4 inch etc.Imperial AF spanners are normally used on nuts and bolts threaded UNC or UNF (Unified Coarse or Unified Fine) Metric spanners are marked or sized in the same way but in millimetres,they are used on metric threaded fastenings..... Coarse threads (whitworth,unc etc) are more likely to be used on the thread in a casting where strength is important,most nut and bolt assemblies will use a fine thread.Finer threads (BSF,unf etc) have a greater resistance to being shaken loose by vibration.Bolts and nuts in brass or similar soft metal are normally coarse threaded for strength.

Whitworth B.S.F to A.F (inches across flats) and Metric conversion tables.
Whitworth/BSF head sizes and the metric or imperial Equivalent. Whitworth 1/8 3/16 1/4 BSF. 3/16 1/4 5/16 Metric. 8.64 11.3 13.34 Imperial (af). .340 .445 .525 Imperial to Metric A.F 1/4 5/16 3/8 MM. 6.35 7.94 9.52

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BSW,BS,,AF,BA and metric tool size equivalents.

http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/conversion charts.htm

5/16 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 5/8* 11/16 3/4* 7/8 1

3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 5/8 11/16* 3/4 7/8* 1 1.1/8

15.24 18.03 20.83 23.37 25.65 27.94* 30.48 33.02* 37.59 42.42

.6 .710 .82 .92 1.010 1.100 1.200 1.300 1.480 1.670

7/16 1/2 9/16 5/8 11/16 3/4* 7/8 15/16 1.00 1.1/16

11.11 12.7 14.29 15.88 17.46 19.05* 22.22 23.81 25.40 26.93

*You can use the above chart to find equivalents for some missing tools.For example 3/4 inch af and 19mm are very close,or 5/8 inch whit and 28mm,3/4 inch whit and 33mm etc. Some sockets especially six sided impact might be marked in these examples with both sizes.

Diameter and thread pitches in inches (tpi).BSW,BSF,UNC and UNF bolt threads

Nominal Bolt diameter inches. 1/4 5/16 3/8 7/16 1/2 9/16 5/8 3/4

BSW.tpi 20 18 16 14 12 12 11 10

BSF.tpi 26 22 20 18 16 16 14 12

UNC.tpi 20 18 16 14 13 12 11 10

UNF.tpi 28 24 24 20 20 18 18 16

This Table gives B.A sizes in Metric/Inch equivalent measurements (ie 6BA is 4.9mm)
BA (British Associated) is an early British standard often found on dynamos,starters and electrical fittings on old British cars and motorcycles
10BA .117 inches. 2.97mm

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BSW,BS,,AF,BA and metric tool size equivalents.

http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/conversion charts.htm

9BA 8BA 7BA 6BA 5BA 4BA 3BA 2BA 1BA 0BA

.131 inches .152 inches .172 inches .193 inches .220 inches .248 inches .282 inches .324 inches (Probably most common BA size) .365 inches .413 inches

3.33 mm 3.86mm 4.37mm 4.90mm 5.59mm 5.59mm 7.16mm 8.23mm 9.27mm 10.49mm.

Application Chart for sockets and box spanners (mainly older vehicles).
Size 3/4 inch af 15/16 inch af 1 + 1/16 af 1 +1/4 inch af 1 + 5/16 inch af 6 point deep socket 1 + 1/2 inch af.6 point deep socket 1 + 5/8 inch af 1 + 3/4 inch (socket or box) 1 + 13/16 inch af 6 point deep socket 1 + 7/8 inch af 2 +13/16 inch af 2 +3/4 inch af 3 inch af Applications Common wheel nut size. Wheel nuts Wheel nuts Rear hub nut Vehicles Very common. Pre 1972 Land Rovers After 1972 Land Rovers. Jowett Javelin Notes (19mm equivalent ) (24mm) (27mm) Virtually every nut and bolt on these vehicles is whitworth or BSF. Front wheel drive hub nuts.Also cranshaft pulley and rear hub on MGB. Also fits Mini flywheel nuts. Probably other early BMC rear wheel drive A40 etc. Socket must be deep type for ball joint application. Normally impact type.1/2 inch square drive. Available as H/D box or socket. Rear hub nuts.Front uses 42mm 70mm.

Front hub nuts.

Mini,Austin Allegro,Austin/Morris 1100 and 1300 Austin Maxi. Mini,Allegro.Austin/Morris 1100 or 1300,Maxi. BMC Midget,Austin Healey Sprite etc. Some early Leyland vehicles

Front suspension ball joints Rear Hub nut. Ball joints.

Front suspension ball Joints Hub nuts Rear hub nuts Hub nuts Hub nuts

Rover group Metro vehicles Also ...Modern Triumph motorbikes?. Older BMC (Wolseley 1500 etc). Commer TS3 Bedford 2 Ton Bedford 3 Ton

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BSW,BS,,AF,BA and metric tool size equivalents.

http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/conversion charts.htm

3 + 1/8 inch af

Hub nuts Scaffold Spanner

Leyland Roadrunner Also some IVECO trucks Scaffold clamps.(with a pointed end the spanner is often called a 'podger spanner'). Morris Minor and other BMC vehicles

7/16 inch whitworth 1 +1/8 inch whitworth 1 +1/4 inch whitworth.

Still often used but being replaced by metric.

Hub Nuts Burman gearbox Oxygen Sensor M24 threaded injector sockets. HGV diesel injector sockets

Available as deep socket or box. Nearest equivalent (Panther,Vincent motorcyles and many 52mm as below. others)

22 mm deep

Modern vehicles Most diesel injector sockets cars and light commercials.. Scania,Volvo

Long socket often has 'window' in side. Will also fit some sensors. Larger diesel injector sockets on many HVG engines. 2 + 1/16 inch af.

27 mm deep 28mm deep

52mm six sided socket 56mm (usually 12 sided) 65 mm (usually 12 sided) 50mm Eight sided 56mm Eight sided

Hub nuts

Some models Land Rover and Range Rover Ford Transit 1993 onwards. Ford Transit (before 1993) Austin A55,MGA.MGB* J2 Van and some taxi cabs*

Hub nut Hub nut Hub nut Hub nut

Usually 3/4 drive. Ford Transit models 130,150 and 190 plus some IVECO. Note these are octagonal (eight sided).* As above (eight sided).*

A box spanner or six sided socket the next size up might be a solution in an emergency (ie) a 19mm spanner will probably undo a 3/4 inch af nut.These may have greater tolerance than 12 sided sockets but there is always a risk of damage to socket and or the fastening.Six sided (sometimes called six point) sockets or ring spanners are less likely to damage brass or chromed fittings.
Whitworth,BSF,metric and imperial spanners are based on different standards and hence sizes,with few exceptions they are not interchangeable..As well as classic motorcycles from AJS to Vincents,a lot of older cars used whitworth and BSF fastenings .Marine engines like Lister and Gardner use them as well, and were designed to last, so imperial tools might be regarded as obsolete by some but are still essential on such units.. Damaged bolt heads spoil the restoration or repair of many a rebuilt classic car or motorcycle,theres no need when the correct spanners are still available from me.Ring spanners are called box spanners in the US,block spanners is another term for obstruction spanners and some people refer to C obstruction spanners as crescent wrenches others use the same term for an adjustable spanner.

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BSW,BS,,AF,BA and metric tool size equivalents.

http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/conversion charts.htm

If you are still unsure as to what spanner or socket you require to order,measure the nut or bolt with a caliper or accurate ruler across the flats in mm.If you know if the thread is fine or coarse and when the item was made it will help work out what size the original fitting is. Some axle shaft nuts are eight sided,normal bi hex sockets will not fit these. Click here to go to my Ebid automotive tool auctions,in the US and Canada I sell on Ecrater Links to to other pages on this site are below. Spanners and wrenches. Servicing and repair BSF Whitworth Sockets and tools sets Home page.

Baconsdozen new and obsolete tools 13 Waveney Road Lowestoft Suffolk NR321BT Tel 01502564120. Ordering and contact details click here.

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