Hi,
Is there an easy way of measuring the pitch on a bolt? I have just bought £10 worth of useless bolts as the pitch isn't fine enough!
The bolts are for the bolts securing my suspension on the rear end, and seems to require 19mm nyloc nuts, but the pitch is really fine.
Don't want even more useless nuts and bolts, and I dont have time to go to a local supplier, I need to buy online as I work 8.30 - 5 (but usually
way after 6pm) and everywhere is closed.
Thanks
You can get a pitch gauge. Mine came free with some cheap taps and dies. That or measure them with a vernier caliper. Peak to peak or trough to trough. After a while you can just look at the things and see what they are.
First you need to establish imperial or metric by measuring the diameter.
If metric, then measure ten threads peak to peak and divide by ten for the pitch. ie. M12 x 1.5
If imperial then count how many threads per measured inch ie. 1/2" 12tpi
HTH
David
[Edited on 24/11/08 by DavidM]
pitch gauge it is! My calipers are really poor quality, so I'll just be asking for trouble!
Thanks guys, I'll get on ebay.
what has happened to the locost spirit! pitch gauges indeed.
take a piece of paper and press it against the bolt - helps if bolt is a bit dirty/greasy. This leaves an imprint of the threads and then by using a
ruler, measure distance between 11 lines (10 full pitch cycles, ivide by ten and there you have. Esire then using vernier calipers.
pitch guage indeed 
Easy tibbles! 
My calipers were only a pound and so I'll spend the few quid I saved on some cheap £2.00 pitch gauges.
I think I can stump up the £2.00, and it will save me spending £10 on DUFF PARTS!
GREEZY bolts indeed!
If you are building a car you will need a basic set of metric tap and dies if only to clean up the threads -- loads of sets on ebay that come with
pitch gauges ----- very low cost item.
Also usually best to order nuts and bolts together. Most local nut & bolt suppliers are too big to care so most kit and classic car people on
here use Namrick http://www.namrick.co.uk/ at some point.
number on bolt head eg 8.8 means metric lines on bolt head means inperial!
I have a metric tap and die set, but only for the wide pitch stuff and only for metric.
Its only on the more specilist bolts that I am unsure on.
Thanks for all the tips thought guys - they all get filled away for future emergencies! 
A Zuess chart is a good investment as well , gives loads of info on pitch,diameter and hole sizes for tapping amongst other things. Any good engineering suppliers should have them at less than a fiver.
quote:
pitch gauge it is! My calipers are really poor quality, so I'll just be asking for trouble!
Hi.
A useful dodge is to use a standard metric coarse bolt as a thread gauge.
By holding a smaller coarse bolt against the larger metric fine thread you can see if it is the same pitch.
e.g.
6mm coarse is 1mm pitch.
It will be the same pitch as a brake pipe thread. (10 x 1)
10mm coarse is 1.5 pitch.
It will mesh with 18 x 1.5
Below is a page from my Hydra Tools book.
I think if you right click on it you can download it.
HTH
Paul G
Rescued attachment thread-pitch-3-s.jpg
quote:
Originally posted by tomblyth
number on bolt head eg 8.8 means metric lines on bolt head means inperial!
I think what was meant to be said was that only metric uses the 8.8 or 12.9 systems whereas imperial uses the lines.
quote:
Originally posted by MautoK
The 8.8 and 12.9 marking refer to tensile strength but not sure of the precise significance - except bigger number=stronger.