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response, regards Peter

The sort of socket screws i have are completely useless, the head twists off under any sort of pressure, looks like i'll be going back to old fashioned studding and nuts!

Michael W

I'd forget about using BA sizes unless you happen to find a convenient source of supply. Metric are much easier to find now, and eBay will usually throw up a number of suppliers in the small quantities needed.

It all rather depends on whether you've tapped the holes in your engine already!

There was a supplier at the Doncaster show who sold stainless steel metric fasteners from about M1,6 upwards at about a quid a bag. (Turbo Trade UK 07926 256551, www,turbotradeuk.co.uk according to my programme).

My last couple of locos have all sorts of fasteners both metric and BA, because that's what I happened to have at the time. I've often tapped out BA nuts to the next larger metric size as this often gives a good "scale" appearance.

Actually just looked at my 10V and its almost all 7BA which will be very hard to find. So its either a case of use the provided fixings from the start or if you have not started yet then change to M2.5 and get easily available metric cap heads. Then once complete make up some studs and use small hex nuts from Polly or direct from GHW

As you say using the cap heads during construction is easy particularly with a ball hex driver and saves marking teh nuts when you will be taking things apart and reassembling several times. I do the same.

Just out of interest, can I ask why some of you are using BA fasteners rather than metric? Metric are so much easier to get hold of and I suspect in most cases much cheaper. I can sort of understand if you're of advancing years and using up old stock though.

Verily I be one of those of advancing years… have BA & ME taps & dies… & fittings came with the kit… so…

George.

Srewfix seem to have dropped nearly all of their useful fixings – Toolstation carry the near identical stock and are usually cheaper

Or just use regular M3 cap heads into a counterbored hole for hidden fixings, the larger hex socket is less prone to damage

Toolstation is co-owneI by Screwfix and Travis Perkins. I second AHC Camberley, but can pop in there as required.

I am *very* slowly building an S50. For trial assembly I have found that 1/4" drive BA sockets work very well. Just the sockets, hand held. BA sockets are readily available in all likely sizes. There is one side effect which might offend, repeated used of the sockets polishes rings around the hex heads.

I must admit that some imperial nuts and bolts look better than metric ones. It seems to be the ratio between thread diameter and nut/head size. Anyone know why metric seem to have larger heads/nuts?