Where do you guys find your bolts?

robs ss · Jan 6, 2020

I have found Custom Fasters in Wales (UK) to be excellent for all types of fasteners.
I would thoroughly recommend them: http://www.custom-fasteners.co.uk

Norcoastal · Jan 6, 2020

marshg246 said:
Most bolts are fine thread, not Whitworth or anything British. The gearbox is all British threads but most things aren't. AN often tells you what thread. Some you asked about are 1/4" x 28 which you can get at your local hardware store.

Really? That’s great. Thanks!

Norcoastal · Jan 6, 2020

jbruney said:
You'll know when you grab hold of a Whitworth. First clue will be that your wrenches just don't seem to be the right size and you start thinking metric?... Well don't pursue that thought order the correct wrenches.... Head bolts comes to mind right off.

I actually have a set of Whitworth sockets and wrench’s for when I was working on my triumph and BSA.

Norcoastal · Jan 6, 2020

joe czech said:
I went thru this same thing. seems like 80% of the stuff is UNF. I've found that "Old Britts" list the hardware specs in their parts listing callouts. ID'ing the part is half the battle. lots of 1/4-28 stuff, some 5/16-24, and a few 3/8-18. believe it or not, I find most stuff at ACE hardware and lowes (in their specialty bins). I tend to buy bulk items at McMaster-Carr (on-line) - mostly washers and nuts. i usually get small quantities from fleabay - my favorite - https://www.ebay.com/str/The-Bolt-Barn?_trksid=p2047675.l2563. definitely not an expert, but on my 74, seems like only the gearbox hardware and stuff under #10 is British.

Very cool. Thanks

Norcoastal · Jan 6, 2020

drp said:
Greg Marsh took the "stainless steel bits" info and put them into an excel database so you can easily search by the P/N of the bolt
https://www.gregmarsh.com/index.aspx

Another good source is Old Brits
http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_main.html
they have parts listing and parts diagrams by year and the description has the thread, size and whether are not if they are commercially available. If you have a Commando and are state side Old Brits is a great company to deal with

They also sell them but if they are not special and commercially available I'd recommend Ace, True value or Tractor supply.

CEI or BSC are also easily available from British Fasteners
https://britishfasteners.com/

The fasteners are always a problem on a basket case bike

Dave

Terrific thanks

Norcoastal · Jan 6, 2020

gortnipper said:
+1 on the links above.

Note that there are a couple errors on the database, but it is largely correct. Invaluable.

After you are done with the Norton, you will have another bucket... ;-)

Haha. True

Madnorton · Jan 7, 2020

A few at most are 'Whit Form' we get most queries about these. You will not get them from a local fastener specialist. Why Norton used these is anyones guess.

olympus · Jan 7, 2020

robs ss said:
I have found Custom Fasters in Wales (UK) to be excellent for all types of fasteners.
I would thoroughly recommend them: http://www.custom-fasteners.co.uk

Custom Fasteners have always been great , but in the last 12months have become very expensive to deal with compared to other companies. i now use: https://www.spaldingfasteners.co.uk/

Bernhard · Jan 7, 2020

Madnorton said:
A few at most are 'Whit Form' we get most queries about these. You will not get them from a local fastener specialist. Why Norton used these is anyones guess.

Because they were British!

ninja · Jan 7, 2020

Any classic car specialist, mainly British will supply ass nuts bolts and washers, unf bsf ect I also run a Tr6 car and can buy plenty of stainless nuts and bolts.

L.A.B. · Jan 7, 2020

Madnorton said:
A few at most are 'Whit Form' we get most queries about these.

A considerable number of AN parts were previously marked as "Whit Form"(?) which were not Whitworth!

Although many seem to have been corrected there are still various items marked 'Whit Form' (or Whit) that are not Whitworth thread.

Madnorton said:
Why Norton used these is anyones guess.

?

Madnorton · Jan 7, 2020

Correct, Whit form is used to describe a whitworth thread form used outside the normal table range of whitworth threads, usually with a different TPI. Or this may help others - a Whitworth thread you will find in a whitworth thread table, anything described as Whit Form you will not.

I have even had battles with fastener suppliers saying it can't be, only for their old and bold die makers to confirm it.

L.A.B. · Jan 7, 2020

Madnorton said:
Whit form is used to describe a whitworth thread form used outside the normal table range of whitworth threads, usually with a different TPI.

Are you saying then that the 20 and 26 tpi items below are not 'Cycle' thread (until recently there were many more but it seems 'Whit Form' has been removed from their description)?

https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/17172
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/15262
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/17229
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/17364

Madnorton · Jan 7, 2020

Yes, not all 20 & 26 tpi are Cycle, many assumed they were and bought Cycle threaded parts from other sources, only to query why they didn't quite seem right.

For what reason Norton decided to use 26 tpi Cei and Whit Form is still a guess, it seems to go against the BSA standards book.

gatsby · Jan 7, 2020

https://www.stainlessmiddleton.co.uk/34355-norton-commando-750-850 is my favorite. Fast and cheap shipping to Canada.

Gatsby

L.A.B. · Jan 7, 2020

Mick Hemmings in his engine rebuild video refers to the pre-Unified base studs and nuts* as: "Cycle thread".

If I recall correctly, John Hudson too in his video.

*https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-details/17364

Bernhard · Jan 7, 2020

One can almost, I say almost, that some of these non standard threads are bastard threads. Oooooh I'm being rude here, - no!
BSA used to make bicycles and cycle thread was bread and butter to them, at that time. . . .
Norton have been going since the 1920s so both of them used cycle threads, that is until. . . . If you look at the factory history the two marquees each had their own imperial to metric change over at different times , you couldn't do worse than buy yourself a metric and imperial thread gauge and learn how to use them.

L.A.B. · Jan 7, 2020

Bernhard said:
One can almost, I say almost, that some of these non standard threads are bastard threads. Oooooh I'm being rude here, - no!

Not sure if all were 'bastard' but as stated in BS 84, below, (the British Standard specification for BSW and BSF) there were alternatives to the recommended pitch.

____________________________________

"Exceptional design requirements may, at times, necessitate the use of a screw thread of Whitworth form but having a diameter-pitch combination differing from those recommended in Table 13 and Table 13A and the relevant notes. It is recommended in such cases that the number of threads per inch should be chosen from the following series.
40 36 32 28 26 24 20 18 16 14 12 11 10 8 6 4 threads per inch
The numbers of threads per inch in heavy type are to be regarded as preferred."
____________________________________

jbruney · Jan 7, 2020

Truly one can experience an adventure right at home working on their bike.

L.A.B. · Jan 7, 2020

Bernhard said:
If you look at the factory history the two marquees each had their own imperial to metric change over at different times

Imperial to Unified.

Where do you guys find your bolts?

robs ss

Norcoastal

Norcoastal

Norcoastal

Norcoastal

Norcoastal

Madnorton

olympus

Bernhard

ninja

L.A.B.

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Madnorton

L.A.B.

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Madnorton

gatsby

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Bernhard

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