Recommendations for Whitworth spanners and sockets please?
Just seen a tool kit for on the bike on evilBay. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/227127653573
I bought a set of sockets at the Stafford show a few years back and to be honest it's a bag of the proverbial.
Hi,
That tool kit looks quite good for an 'on the bike' selection. Add a spare plug and small wire brush and it should cover most road side issues.
I would suggest having a separate selection for workshop use so that the bike ones are always on the bike.
Don't buy cheap as they will not last. Secondhand spanners from a good brand are ok but the smaller, most used ones can still be worn. Larger less used ones are mostly like new.
Dave.
I get my whit tools from autojumbles. Got an 11/16" ring Britool, (the A10 rear wheel spindle) for £3 last week. There's a tool guy who sells most whit spanners for £1 at Kempton but the big ones (like the 11/16) are £2 or £3 but the same spanner was £9 on e-bay.
You will need:
3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8 Whit
11/16" and 1/2" whit for the wheel, swing arm, oil drain and fork nuts (correct me, is the oil 1/2" whit?)
a 6" adjustable to carry and a set of Terry Spanners for the mag
I also find a 4" Bahco really handy but they are pricy.
I got a box of Britool whit sockets for £4 at Brookands
To carry - folding plug spanner, Trerry spanners, feelers 6" adjustable (best quality you can get) 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 OE whit, 1/4 for the tappets
Screwdriver (double ended flat / cross, so many in car boot sales from car tool kits - the Merc ones are top quality. Don't pay more than £1
A pair of pliers.
Quote from: espeas on 13 Dec, 2025, 09:56 Recommendations for Whitworth spanners and sockets please?
I use Metrinch almost exclusively. Becoming very hard to find these days but are much better for the fasteners as they never damage the hex corners.
Brilliant thanks for all of that!!
Quote from: Novocastrian on 13 Dec, 2025, 12:22 but are much better for the fasteners as they never damage the hex corners.
Hmmm. Metrinch better than the correct spanner? Don't think so...
Hi,
Are they designed to act on the flats rather than the hex corners of the head? They look like they would work on worn nuts and bolts.
Dave.
I must admit since I bought a set of wera joker spanners they are my go to tools there the best ive seen and used . Such a small movement for the ratchet to work . Other than that I have every spanner in every size .
Quote from: V500 on 13 Dec, 2025, 16:33 Quote from: Novocastrian on 13 Dec, 2025, 12:22 but are much better for the fasteners as they never damage the hex corners.
Hmmm. Metrinch better than the correct spanner? Don't think so...
I'm sure you don't. Your opinion would have some value to me if you bothered to state the reason behind your statement. It's a bit like "Indian BSAs are rubbish" when the opinion comes from someone who's never owned one, but reads the internet.
I have this debate with traditionalists frequently.... they've never used Metrinch for the most part but their views are often old school and without justification because they can't tell me why "correct" spanners are better. Yes, Dave Brady, You've got it... The sockets and wrenches sit on the flats rather than the corners of the hex... And yes, Metrinch are superior to a "correct" spanner when it comes to old worn hex faces....they never slip, whereas we all know what happens when one uses a "correct" spanner on a worn hex head or nut.
I'm happy for folk to pass comments backed up with fact, but you can guess what I do with throwaway comments ;)
In a good tool kit don't forget a chain splitter and spare links for the correct size chain.
Just my 2p
Yes I carry a couple of links.
And the mythical 25/32" AF spanner for the crank nut, no need to carry it though. Bizarrely 25/32 spanners are quite common and cheap, usually with a War Dept arrow so they must have been in the tool kit for some common bit of Army kit.
Quote from: Novocastrian on 13 Dec, 2025, 22:43 I'm happy for folk to pass comments backed up with fact, but you can guess what I do with throwaway comments ;)
Here's a fact for you then, you'd be ridiculed relentlessly (or more likely disciplined) for using such a thing in any precision professional environment.
Possibly they have a use when dealing with old worn and abused nuts on old vehicles, but then so do Molegrips, slip-joint pliers, Stillsons etc but then that's a specific task and not a general recommendation.
Those Metrinch things have been around for decades and still haven't caught on, even with weekend mechanics. That tells you all you need to know about how "good" they are.
Hi,
I think I may get some metrinch as it means that I will be able to reduce the number of spanners that I need to carry.
Currently I need AF for my '69 A65 and BSF for my wife's '51 A10. Also there are likely to be the odd worn heads or even a metric that has sneaked in.
Moles grips and slip joint pliers are great as a last resort but can actually make worn heads a bit more messy so fine, if they are being replaced. I would think that metrinch would also be a better bet than an adjustable which can end up being a bit slack and not the best for tight spots.
Not being a precision professional I do not fear any ridicule but I do appreciate the fit of a quality spanner or socket on a nice new or pristine bolt head or nut however, for most of us we need a practical solution to very day maintenance of our BSAs and the more options we have the better.
A bit like a selection screwdrivers and different sized of hammers.
Dave.
Well, I have had a set for years and years, brought them when they first came out.
I don't use them much as I have a full range of both metric and imperial spammers, but when I have had to use one if I'm stuck with a nut or bolt they have been fab.
So I think love em or hate em, they work for me every time I have needed them too.
Cheers
Ian
Hi,
Very few 'Metrinch' available in UK. Australia and New Zealand followed by USA and Germany. Not cheap and postages a chunk of cost on top.
Dave.
Quote from: V500 on 14 Dec, 2025, 11:55 Quote from: Novocastrian on 13 Dec, 2025, 22:43 I'm happy for folk to pass comments backed up with fact, but you can guess what I do with throwaway comments ;)
Here's a fact for you then, you'd be ridiculed relentlessly (or more likely disciplined) for using such a thing in any precision professional environment.
So much for "facts" if your comment purports to be one. As I said, I throwaway comments from folk who haven't actually used them.
Quote from: DAVE BRADY on 14 Dec, 2025, 13:10 Hi,
I think I may get some metrinch as it means that I will be able to reduce the number of spanners that I need to carry.
Dave.
Dave, it is only a small company that manufacturers them. They used to be made in the USA but I'm not sure if they still are. They are very high quality. You are right in that they are hard to find in the UK. I bought a complete 3/8" drive socket and wrench set from the Netherlands and yes they were expensive. But like you, I alternate between bikes utilising different standards of fasteners and find a small number of sockets and wrenches fits everything. Reading comments on the internet is a bit like seeking opinions on Marmite. Users generally find them excellent; people who consider themselves experts but haven't actually used them poo poo them. I think the excess movement until the internal raised points engage with the hex faces often feels unnatural, but that's how they work and they don't slip.
Hi,
I eventually found a supplier in Belgium and for £69 ish, including delivery, I bought a 10 piece spanner set that should cover most needs. Considering that some of the larger sizes in this set in used condition are going for £15 on ebay I thought that it was a good deal.
Now to rationalise my bag of 'on the bike' tools to reduce the number of spanners needed and to save some weight.
Dave.
I also have a spannerset from metrinch, for years now. I really use it not much.
I go for the right spanner. They helped me with Some damaged bolt/nuts very well.
Good set for on the road, they will not fit on every type of english bolt.