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Author: Subject: How to determine pitch on bolts/nuts.
Dangle_kt

posted on 24/11/08 at 01:04 PM Reply With Quote
How to determine pitch on bolts/nuts.

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

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mistergrumpy

posted on 24/11/08 at 01:07 PM Reply With Quote
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.






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DavidM

posted on 24/11/08 at 01:13 PM Reply With Quote
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]





Proportion is Everything

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Dangle_kt

posted on 24/11/08 at 01:17 PM Reply With Quote
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.

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02GF74

posted on 24/11/08 at 01:33 PM Reply With Quote
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






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Dangle_kt

posted on 24/11/08 at 02:03 PM Reply With Quote
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!


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britishtrident

posted on 24/11/08 at 03:46 PM Reply With Quote
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.

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tomblyth

posted on 24/11/08 at 04:38 PM Reply With Quote
number on bolt head eg 8.8 means metric lines on bolt head means inperial!
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Dangle_kt

posted on 24/11/08 at 05:25 PM Reply With Quote
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!

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rusty nuts

posted on 24/11/08 at 07:13 PM Reply With Quote
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.
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maartenromijn

posted on 24/11/08 at 08:22 PM Reply With Quote
quote:

pitch gauge it is! My calipers are really poor quality, so I'll just be asking for trouble!



How can you live with poor quality calipers??

[Edited on 24/11/08 by maartenromijn]





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907

posted on 24/11/08 at 08:37 PM Reply With Quote
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
Rescued attachment thread-pitch-3-s.jpg







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MautoK

posted on 31/12/08 at 07:03 PM Reply With Quote
quote:
Originally posted by tomblyth
number on bolt head eg 8.8 means metric lines on bolt head means inperial!


The 8.8 and 12.9 marking refer to tensile strength but not sure of the precise significance - except bigger number=stronger.





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mistergrumpy

posted on 31/12/08 at 07:13 PM Reply With Quote
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.






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C10CoryM

posted on 31/12/08 at 07:18 PM Reply With Quote
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.


Yes the numbers on the head indicate the tensile strength. 8.8 is about 800MPa, 12.9 is around 1200MPa.
But that is only a metric way of doing it so if you see numbers, it's a metric bolt
Imperial uses lines on top of the head. 3 lines = grade 5 bolt. 6lines = grade 8 etc.
If your bolts have no lines or numbers they are not acceptable to automotive use. Grade 5 is the minimum.
Cheers.





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