I have three crescent wrenches; SAE, metric and a Whitworth.
And they are all interchangeable.
So there, beat that!
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I keep a full set of 6 point W and 6 point BA sockets laying around, for rusted bolts and nuts that are slightly smaller than their intended size or slightly larger than due to poor manufacturing. I also keep a set of /32 “ sockets (13/32, 15/32, 17/32, 19/32, 21/32, 23/32, 25/32, 27/32, 29/32 and 31/32). I am also in process of expanding my /64 “ collection. It’s good to have a variety of sizes for these situations. Extractor sockets are also helpful. I try with various 6 point sockets of different sizes, first, and if that doesn’t work 12 point. Then extractor sockets. Extractor sockets typically damage the fastener I find and last resort.
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Never heard of whitworth until the internet and car talk. Thought metric was the end of it.
Have you tried a 6pt vs a 12pt socket?
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Yes, I have used a 6 pt., several months ago. My pal & I just could not get a socket or box wrench to grip that hex bolt. He took it to a shop that went deeper into repair tactics than he & I did. The shop got the wheel bearing replaced, and getting a proper view of the troublesome bolt head, saw that it had definitely been rounded off by initial efforts by my pal to get the bolt out, although we couldn’t tell for sure when we tried different wrenches to break it loose. Thanks to you, and all others for replies and advice for my post…
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Did they replace the bolt for you? Based on description of rounding it out, need to go slightly smaller than 13 mm. I would try a 6 point 1/2”, and if that doesn’t work 12 point 1/2”. If those don’t work try an extractor 13 mm, then an extractor 1/2 “
Those hub bearing bolts are readily available from multiple sources… Any shop worth anything will replace a damaged bolt…
A quality 13mm socket works just fine, you just have to also have the proper tools and or knowhow to get to the bolt head, GM hub bearings of that era and type are known to fail and many a mechanic has replaced them (at times on a daily basis lol) without being required to use a different socket… It is the angle of approach that is the issue, not the socket size…
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I don’t know, my pal took the car somewhere, i will ask him next time i talk with him
When working on 1950s model British cars long ago I acquired several Whitworth combination wrenches. They were either /32 or /64 inch and rarely needed but there seemed to be nothing that could be used interchangeably, That was long ago though.
You were using a Hinsdale set?
How long did that “finish” last?
Speaking of Whitworth gage, here’s some click-bait I just found on YouTube:
Listen to part of it, just too long of a video for me. Seems we should no longer use ‘cubits’ for boat building.
As far as cars, it took Cadillac to demonstrate, in England, precision machining and standardized parts interchangeability in the automobile in 1908
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I’ve had similar issues with stuck bolts before. One thing that might work is using a socket with a rubber insert, those seem to grip better than regular sockets. If that doesn’t work, you could try using a bolt extractor, it’s a tool specifically designed for removing stuck or rounded bolts.
Welcome to the forum, just be careful, reading into your user name it looks like a business and Car Talk does not allow advertisement/spam, other than that, hope you join in and ask for help or help out with answers…
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