Which whitworth sockets/wrenches do I need for my MKIII ?

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I've got a 1975 MKIII Commando and Iw ant to rip the motor out to send off for a rebuild. I've never done such an undertaking and this will be my first time doing so.

I know I need a 1/2" whitworth for the rotor nut, but that is all I know of.

I'm not doing any motor work myself, just removing it along with the transmission, clutch assembly ect.

What do I need? Sizes? Sockets or wrenches or both?

I'm totally lost with this so any help is very much appreciated.
 
norbsa48503 said:
You also need 1/4 and 3/16

Right. O.k., so I need 1/2", 1/4 and 3/16. Should I get those in sockets or would I need wrenches?

I'm unsure as which way to go as I've never had to rip my motor out before and am unsure if space requirements won't allow for use of a socket.

Thanks L.A.B.
 
Coco said:
Thanks L.A.B.

It was norbsa!

Anyway, the engine and gearbox mounting bolts are SAE so you will mainly need Imperial A/F sockets/spanners.
 
norbsa48503 said:
You need both and you can buy them here cheap in any quantity you like.
http://www.britishfasteners.com/mm5/merchant.mvc
I am not LAB I am not LAB
I am NORBSA

Oops. Sorry NORBSA. I read a post by LAB in another thread before posting a response and that must have been on my brain.

So thanks NORBSA!!!

I am getting them from the link you provided. Lots of options. I was just going to shell out the cash for a complete set but the Brit Tool stuff is quite pricey for a kit. $198 for a small socket set with things I don't need.

The sales fellow recommended the King Dick stuff as he said their warranty is much better since Brit Tool can be hard to deal with.
 
Can a ring spanner be used for taking off the cylinder head and barrels or should I be needing open ended wrnches for such a task?

Just by looking at my bike it seems a ring spanner might be too tight a fit between the nut and barrel wall.
 
Coco said:
Can a ring spanner be used for taking off the cylinder head and barrels or should I be needing open ended wrnches for such a task?

Just by looking at my bike it seems a ring spanner might be too tight a fit between the nut and barrel wall.

The head nut between the carbs is difficult to get a ring spanner on -unless you grind it, and you probably won't get a standard socket in there.

Although this now falls into the 'dismantle engine' category, rather than just 'remove engine' as you originally described?

The head bolts/nuts have 1/4" & 3/16" Whitworth hexagons (even though the threads are not 1/4 - 3/16 Whit.).

You won't get a 3/16" Whit. ring on the two rear barrel base nuts either, although the front two are no problem, and the large front centre nut is easy, and likely to be 9/16" A/F hexagon.
 
L.A.B. said:
Coco said:
Can a ring spanner be used for taking off the cylinder head and barrels or should I be needing open ended wrnches for such a task?

Just by looking at my bike it seems a ring spanner might be too tight a fit between the nut and barrel wall.

The head nut between the carbs is difficult to get a ring spanner on -unless you grind it, and you probably won't get a standard socket in there.

Although this now falls into the 'dismantle engine' category, rather than just 'remove engine' as you originally described?

The head bolts/nuts have 1/4" & 3/16" Whitworth hexagons (even though the threads are not 1/4 - 3/16 Whit.).

You won't get a 3/16" Whit. ring on the two rear barrel base nuts either, although the front two are no problem, and the large front centre nut is easy, and likely to be 9/16" A/F hexagon.

Thanks L.A.B.

I am considering taking the head off to ease shipment of the motor to the rebuilder as they suggested sending the head in a different box so I am inquiring what I will need to do that.

It seems as though I need open ended wrenches and not a ring spanner. Thanks!
 
I bit the bullet and just ordered s set of whitworth, King Dick sockets and a more affordable set of Everset open ended wrenches from Brit Tool.

Hopefully that should cover my needs for the Norton and maybe my brother's old BSA M20.
 
Have you ordered a 3/8" drive 1/4" Whit socket and attachment ? I have never seen a 1/2" drive of this size that will fit in the tunnels.

You're not going to want to take a grinder to your new set, are you ? :shock:
 
79x100 said:
Have you ordered a 3/8" drive 1/4" Whit socket and attachment ? I have never seen a 1/2" drive of this size that will fit in the tunnels.

I personally prefer to use a 3/8" drive socket kit myself when working on my Norton (and other bikes) unless it is a large nut/bolt I'm tightening/loosening etc., as I find that the slimmer 3/8" sockets and attachments get into the awkward places better than a 1/2" drive set will.
 
L.A.B. said:
79x100 said:
Have you ordered a 3/8" drive 1/4" Whit socket and attachment ? I have never seen a 1/2" drive of this size that will fit in the tunnels.

I personally prefer to use a 3/8" drive socket kit myself when working on my Norton (and other bikes) unless it is a large nut/bolt I'm tightening/loosening etc., as I find that the slimmer 3/8" sockets and attachments get into the awkward places better than a 1/2" drive set will.

I quite agree L.A.B. I have a nice Gedore 3/8" A/F set that sits far more comfortably in the hand than the larger varieties (which are of course good for the large nuts on rotating shafts).

I don't think that Whitworth 3/8" sets are easy to find though, manufacturers seem to think that Whit. means coarse threads and big spanners. My 3/8" Whit. sockets have all been bought loose.

Facom do "Allen" sockets in 3/8" (but not in a set) and they are quite handy for torquing the fork clamps etc.
 
79x100 said:
Have you ordered a 3/8" drive 1/4" Whit socket and attachment ? I have never seen a 1/2" drive of this size that will fit in the tunnels.

You're not going to want to take a grinder to your new set, are you ? :shock:

I ordered a 3/8" drive, 7-piece set. Just the sockets and no ratchet. Cost around $57 from british fasteners. I also have 1/4" in a 7-piece wrench set that I picked up as well.
 
Scheffy.G said:
You can get a set of 3/8 Whitworth sockets from Old Britts:
http://www.oldbritts.com/ob_7060.htm
On the description page it says it's from Britool, but they're actually the Kokon pieces shown in the picture. Either way, pretty nice stuff for the price.

I looked at Brit Tool and it's pricey. The fellow at British Fasteners guided me towards the King Dick brand simply on warranty and customer service performance. He said king Dick replaces anything basically no questions asked and ships out replacements while Brit Tool never returns e-mails and is pretty hard to deal with on warranty issues. Not like I'm ever going to break a socket but it's good to know I'm covered in case anything happens.

British fasteners sells a cheaper Everest brand which looked decent. That is the brand of wrenches I picked up.
 
Coco, You bought the right brand ! Pre-war, AKD who made tools branded as "Abingdon", "King Dick" and "Shelley" were part of the R.T. Shelley group who owned Nortons.:)
 
79x100 said:
Coco, You bought the right brand ! Pre-war, AKD who made tools branded as "Abingdon", "King Dick" and "Shelley" were part of the R.T. Shelley group who owned Nortons.:)

Well slap my ass and call me Charlie! I finally ordered something right. :wink:
 
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