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Socket / wrench size

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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 09:59 AM
  #21  
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The really helpful info would be to provide the thread specs on fasteners. I fool around with old British bikes and I've had to buy a tool to measure and identify threads on bolts. You've got SAE, BSW, BSF, and sprinkle in a few metrics just for bonus points.
 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 10:15 AM
  #22  
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Originally Posted by Since 1968
The really helpful info would be to provide the thread specs on fasteners. I fool around with old British bikes and I've had to buy a tool to measure and identify threads on bolts. You've got SAE, BSW, BSF, and sprinkle in a few metrics just for bonus points.
You can find thread pitch, bolt length etc. in the parts manual for fasteners that are not Harley specific.
 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 10:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Hammerhead Pat
Half the fun is grabbing a handful of sockets and drop one and watch it roll across the garage and down the driveway.....
I have never understood the physical properties of a socket that cause it roll to the exact center underneath a car or truck.

The exception to this rule is when the vehicle is very close to a wall, in that case the socket will roll all the way to the far side...
 

Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Dec 26, 2021 at 10:24 AM.
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 10:31 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
Very easy indeed...Just take a socket or wrench out of your tool box and see if it fits, like mechanics have done since wrenches were invented...

In over 50 years of working on machinery, I have never needed a document to tell me what size wrench to use.
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Even though I haven't worked as a mechanic in 30 years I can still pretty much look at a fastener and grab the correct size wrench, socket or allen that it takes without even looking at the actual size of the tool.
 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 10:32 AM
  #25  
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Originally Posted by Dan89FLSTC
I have never understood the physical properties of a socket that cause it roll to the exact center underneath a car or truck.

The exception to this rule is when the vehicle is very close to a wall, in that case the socket will roll all the way to the far side...
They like to hide under tires also and when I'm working on the rear area of my bike and drop a nut or bolt, I won't stop looking until I find it.
I found one on top of the drive belt hidden under the belt guard once.
 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 11:39 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by IronAss
This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Even though I haven't worked as a mechanic in 30 years I can still pretty much look at a fastener and grab the correct size wrench, socket or allen that it takes without even looking at the actual size of the tool.
True enough ....Then the metric sizes showed up, mixed and mingled in and among the SAE sizes :<(
 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 11:44 AM
  #27  
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I just have 2 wrenches: 1 SAE adjustable wrench, 1 Metric Adjustable Wrench.
 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 01:19 PM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by TriGeezer
I just have 2 wrenches: 1 SAE adjustable wrench, 1 Metric Adjustable Wrench.
No metric tools in my tool cart...

 
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Old Dec 26, 2021 | 01:51 PM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Uncle Larry
True enough ....Then the metric sizes showed up, mixed and mingled in and among the SAE sizes :<(
Play with them enough you develop the eye for them too. Everything in a car plant is metric today even the damned steel things are built from is metric anymore I kid you not.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2021 | 09:02 AM
  #30  
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When I was a mechanic in the 70's GM came out with models that had metric fasteners. The only good thing was the metric bolts were blue....so if you worked on something and it had a mix of blue and "non-colored" fasteners, it was a PITA!!
Now days I usually have a couple sockets, wrenches, bits, or what ever when I start working on bike.... it's just a couple steps to the tool box, but still it's an educated guess.
Back in the 2000's I had a list of what fits what for Sportsters. I'll attach if I can figure out how.....
edit....sorry...double post on file...both are same....
 
Attached Files
File Type: xls
Sportster wrench sizes.xls (30.5 KB, 23 views)
File Type: xls
Sportster wrench sizes.xls (30.5 KB, 25 views)
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