BSW,BS,,AF,BA and metric tool size equivalents. http://www.baconsdozen.co.uk/tools/conversion charts.

htm

Baconsdozen imperial and metric tools.

Conversion charts for Whitworth and BSF to mm,af,BA socket and
wrench size equivalents etc.

British Standard Whitworth (BSW) takes its name from Whitworth,the British engineer who
invented it.It was an early attempt at a standard for threads and spanner sizes.The size marked
on a Whitworth or BSF (British Standard Fine) spanner refers to the size of the thread and not
the size of the head of the bolt it fits.Whitworth and British Standard Fine were phased out by
the 60s,but some manufacturers carried on using it on some applications much later than this.If
you are a classic car or motorcycle enthusiast you'll come across Whitworth and BSF sooner or
later..(and the hole in the bottom of your new camera is almost certainly tapped 1/4 inch
whitworth) Whitworth thread is coarser than BSF, but the same spanners are used,they are often
marked with both Whit and BSF sizes .A whitworth spanner is larger than a BSF so 1/4 inch
whit is for example the same size as a 5/16inch BSF.(approx 13.34mm),this occurs throught the
sizes so a set of whitworth sockets or spanners will fit an equal number of BSF nuts and bolts.
BA are small sized fastenings found on older vehicles electrical
fittings,magnetos,dynamos,motors,pumps and instruments etc.
AF means across flats,and indicates the distance apart the jaws are on an open end wrench in
fractions of an inch.Usually the smallest increments are 1/16 inch but some smaller spanners are
marked in 1/32 inch increments.Very rarely af spanners are marked in decimal instead of
fractional sizes for example .50 instead of 1/2 or 75 instead of 3/4 inch etc.Imperial AF spanners
are normally used on nuts and bolts threaded UNC or UNF (Unified Coarse or Unified Fine)
Metric spanners are marked or sized in the same way but in millimetres,they are used on metric
threaded fastenings.....
Coarse threads (whitworth,unc etc) are more likely to be used on the thread in a casting where
strength is important,most nut and bolt assemblies will use a fine thread.Finer threads (BSF,unf
etc) have a greater resistance to being shaken loose by vibration.Bolts and nuts in brass or similar
soft metal are normally coarse threaded for strength.

Whitworth B.S.F to A.F (inches across flats) and Metric conversion

tables.
Whitworth/BSF head sizes and the metric or imperial Equivalent. Imperial to Metric

Whitworth BSF. Metric. Imperial (af). A.F MM.

1/8 3/16 8.64 .340 1/4 6.35
3/16 1/4 11.3 .445 5/16 7.94
1/4 5/16 13.34 .525 3/8 9.52

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5/16 3/8 15.24 .6 7/16 11.11

3/8 7/16 18.03 .710 1/2 12.7
7/16 1/2 20.83 .82 9/16 14.29
1/2 9/16 23.37 .92 5/8 15.88
9/16 5/8 25.65 1.010 11/16 17.46
5/8* 11/16* 27.94* 1.100 3/4* 19.05*
11/16 3/4 30.48 1.200 7/8 22.22
3/4* 7/8* 33.02* 1.300 15/16 23.81
7/8 1 37.59 1.480 1.00 25.40
1 1.1/8 42.42 1.670 1.1/16 26.93

*You can use the above chart to find equivalents for some missing tools.For example 3/4 inch af and 19mm
are very close,or 5/8 inch whit and 28mm,3/4 inch whit and 33mm etc. Some sockets especially six sided
impact might be marked in these examples with both sizes.

Diameter and thread pitches in inches (tpi).BSW,BSF,UNC and UNF bolt

threads

Nominal Bolt diameter inches. BSW.tpi BSF.tpi UNC.tpi UNF.tpi

1/4 20 26 20 28

5/16 18 22 18 24

3/8 16 20 16 24
7/16 14 18 14 20
1/2 12 16 13 20
9/16 12 16 12 18
5/8 11 14 11 18
3/4 10 12 10 16

This Table gives B.A sizes in Metric/Inch equivalent measurements (ie

6BA is 4.9mm)
BA (British Associated) is an early British standard often found on dynamos,starters and
electrical fittings on old British cars and motorcycles
10BA .117 inches. 2.97mm

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9BA .131 inches 3.33 mm

8BA .152 inches 3.86mm
7BA .172 inches 4.37mm
6BA .193 inches 4.90mm
5BA .220 inches 5.59mm
4BA .248 inches 5.59mm
3BA .282 inches 7.16mm
2BA .324 inches (Probably most common BA size) 8.23mm
1BA .365 inches 9.27mm
0BA .413 inches 10.49mm.

Application Chart for sockets and box spanners (mainly older vehicles).
Size Applications Vehicles Notes
Common wheel
3/4 inch af Very common. (19mm equivalent )
nut size.
15/16 inch af Wheel nuts Pre 1972 Land Rovers (24mm)
1 + 1/16 af Wheel nuts After 1972 Land Rovers. (27mm)
Virtually every nut and bolt
1 +1/4 inch af Rear hub nut Jowett Javelin on these vehicles is
whitworth or BSF.
1 + 5/16 inch af Front wheel drive hub
6 point deep Front hub nuts. Mini,Austin Allegro,Austin/Morris 1100 nuts.Also cranshaft pulley
socket and 1300 Austin Maxi. and rear hub on MGB.
1 + 1/2 inch
Front suspension Mini,Allegro.Austin/Morris 1100 or Also fits Mini flywheel
af.6 point deep
ball joints 1300,Maxi. nuts.
socket
Probably other early BMC
1 + 5/8 inch af Rear Hub nut. BMC Midget,Austin Healey Sprite etc.
rear wheel drive A40 etc.
1 + 3/4 inch Socket must be deep type
Ball joints. Some early Leyland vehicles
(socket or box) for ball joint application.

1 + 13/16 inch
Front suspension Normally impact type.1/2
af 6 point deep
ball Joints Rover group Metro vehicles inch square drive.
socket
Also ...Modern Triumph motorbikes?.
Older BMC (Wolseley 1500 Available as H/D box or
1 + 7/8 inch af Hub nuts
etc). socket.
2 +13/16 inch Rear hub nuts.Front uses
Rear hub nuts Commer TS3
af 42mm
2 +3/4 inch af Hub nuts Bedford 2 Ton 70mm.
3 inch af Hub nuts Bedford 3 Ton

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3 + 1/8 inch af Hub nuts Leyland Roadrunner

Also some IVECO trucks
Scaffold clamps.(with a pointed
7/16 inch Scaffold Still often used but being
end the spanner is often called a
Spanner
whitworth 'podger spanner'). replaced by metric.

1 +1/8 inch Available as deep

Hub Nuts Morris Minor and other BMC vehicles
whitworth socket or box.
Nearest equivalent
1 +1/4 inch (Panther,Vincent motorcyles and many
Burman gearbox 52mm as below.
whitworth. others)

Oxygen
22 mm deep Sensor Modern vehicles
Long socket often has
'window' in side.
M24 threaded Most diesel injector sockets cars and
27 mm deep Will also fit some sensors.
injector sockets. light commercials..
Larger diesel injector
HGV diesel
28mm deep Scania,Volvo sockets on many HVG
injector sockets
engines.

52mm six sided

Hub nuts Some models Land Rover and Range 2 + 1/16 inch af.
socket
Rover
56mm (usually
Hub nut Ford Transit 1993 onwards. Usually 3/4 drive.
12 sided)
65 mm (usually Ford Transit models 130,150
Hub nut Ford Transit (before 1993)
12 sided) and 190 plus some IVECO.
50mm Eight Note these are octagonal
Hub nut Austin A55,MGA.MGB*
sided (eight sided).*
56mm Eight
Hub nut J2 Van and some taxi cabs* As above (eight sided).*
sided
A box spanner or six sided socket the next size up might be a solution in an emergency (ie) a
19mm spanner will probably undo a 3/4 inch af nut.These may have greater tolerance than 12
sided sockets but there is always a risk of damage to socket and or the fastening.Six sided
(sometimes called six point) sockets or ring spanners are less likely to damage brass or chromed
fittings.

Whitworth,BSF,metric and imperial spanners are based on different standards and hence sizes,with few
exceptions they are not interchangeable..As well as classic motorcycles from AJS to Vincents,a lot of older
cars used whitworth and BSF fastenings .Marine engines like Lister and Gardner use them as well, and were
designed to last, so imperial tools might be regarded as obsolete by some but are still essential on such units..
Damaged bolt heads spoil the restoration or repair of many a rebuilt classic car or motorcycle,theres no need
when the correct spanners are still available from me.Ring spanners are called box spanners in the US,block
spanners is another term for obstruction spanners and some people refer to C obstruction spanners as crescent
wrenches others use the same term for an adjustable spanner.

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If you are still unsure as to what spanner or socket you require to order,measure the nut or bolt
with a caliper or accurate ruler across the flats in mm.If you know if the thread is fine or coarse
and when the item was made it will help work out what size the original fitting is. Some axle
shaft nuts are eight sided,normal bi hex sockets will not fit these.
Click here to go to my Ebid automotive tool auctions,in the US and Canada I sell on Ecrater
Links to to other pages on this site are below.

Spanners and Servicing and BSF Whitworth Sockets and

Home page.
wrenches. repair tools sets

Baconsdozen new and obsolete tools

13 Waveney Road
Lowestoft
Suffolk
NR321BT Tel 01502564120.
Ordering and contact details click here.

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