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#1 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
OK here is something I have not encountered before in decades of mechanical work. I can't figure out how this is possible.
I am trying to adjust a 71-72 tie rod and the clamp bolt and nut are 1/2 inch. The bolt and nut both fit a 1/2 inch open end wrench just great. I have Craftsman combination wrenches with a 12 point box end, and a couple brands of ratcheting box end wrenches with 12 points, and 12 and 6 point sockets. Nothing I have that is 12 point will fit onto the nut at all, that includes box end wrenches regular and ratcheting and 12 point sockets. The 6 point socket just slides right on the nut with no problem. The open end wrench will fit on the nut with no problem, fitting on any pair of the 6 sides. The bolt head is the same size and and will work with 12 point or 6 point tools. The nut will absolutely not work with 12 point tools. I checked both clamp bolts on both sides of the truck, same story. The nuts appear to me to be high quality, other than the nuts don't work with 12 point tools. Is there something about that nut that makes it specially designed to not work with 12 point tools? I see a little bit of a ridge on a couple sides of the 6 sides. Is this nuts or am I a squirrel? Unfortunately I don't remember the brand of tie rods. I got them from Manes Truck Parts and didn't keep the boxes. |
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#2 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Sandown, NH
Posts: 2,819
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
?? Metric ?? Maybe ??? Just guessing.
I've seen some metric threads loosely thread on stanbard bolts but head size not right. Usually cheap stuff.
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Gary 72 SWB 4x4 My 72 SWB Build http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=259859 |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2022
Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 756
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
FWIW I was just removing a header with 6 point 5/16 head and a 5/16" 12 point would not fit but 6 sided 5/16" box would. A 3/8" 12 point box fit perfect. No, the header bolts were not metric
Does a 9/16" 12 point work for you? Personally I would use the 6-sided socket or box wrench vs a 12 point wherever possible |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Catskill Mountains,NY
Posts: 8,471
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
Bolts are miss stamped . Looks like a double stamp to make the head . You could file the very top of the head but I would just buy new bolts
Edit: On second thought it possible it’s a thin jam nut and a nut together . I’ve seen where they dip the bolts and nuts together in corrosion coat and they are stuck together . Use an open end hold the nut and use the socket on the stop nut to break it free
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Mark 72 c20 custom camper Husky edition, 66 SS396 Chevelle 1964 Hawk, 63 Avanti,62 lark 1969 AMX , 1968 c20 stepside ,85 K20 1977 Suburban sold 68 anniversary. Last edited by 72c20customcamper; 12-21-2022 at 11:31 AM. |
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#5 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,624
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
Maybe this. 1/2" = 12.7mm. You might have a 13mm bolt. My only guess....
EDIT: Good catch, Mark! I didn't notice that.
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#6 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
It doesn't seem metric to me but a 13mm 12-point ratcheting box end wrench will fit on it. The open end side of the 13mm wrench also works but it is a looser fit than the 1/2 inch open end wrench. 9/16 wrench will not fit at all, way too loose to even contact the nut. Perhaps this is just manufacturing tolerances and cheap stuff. I'm using 6-point tools to get this done now, I just happened to notice this weird thing because I had the 12-point tools handy and had crawled under the truck with them. I don't own any 6-point ratcheting box end wrenches, and that type of wrench is what I really wanted to use for this thing.
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#7 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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#8 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Cypress, TX
Posts: 3,702
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
Mystery solved, I'll call it metric. Thanks. It didn't occur to me to screw the threads on a thread checker, and I just did that. It is M8-1.25. The only other metric thing on the truck is the bolt used to tighten the alternator in the adjustment groove. They told me in elementary school the metric system was coming to get me. I think the ridges on the 2 opposing sides of the nut are where they squeezed it to make it a stop nut.
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#9 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Bowser
Posts: 13,602
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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#10 |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Podunk, Texas
Posts: 748
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
I had similar fun with the ‘71 Triumph Daytona I bought when I was 14…at first it seemed that a collection of standard and metric wrenches/sockets were adequate…turns out that some of the fasteners were standard, the rest were Whitworth….
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"It is hard to search for a black cat in a dark room, particularly if it is not there. Especially if this cat is smart, brave, and polite." Sergei Shoigu, Russian Minister of Defense |
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#11 | |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
![]() Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
Posts: 13,624
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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- Mike - 1972 K20 LWB 350/350/205 RIP El Jay |
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#12 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,217
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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#13 |
State of Confusion!
![]() ![]() Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Gulfport, MS USA
Posts: 46,860
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
I am finding that most parts made today are metric even if they are for something this old and non-metric.
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Bill 1970 Chevy Custom/10 LWB Fleetside 2010 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner SR5 Double Cab - DD Member of Louisiana Classic Truck Club (LCTC) Bill's Gallery Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God! |
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#14 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: California
Posts: 945
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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#15 |
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Join Date: Oct 2020
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Posts: 474
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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#16 |
Special Order
![]() ![]() Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Mt Airy, MD
Posts: 85,859
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
Glad you figured it out. My dad had '60s Land Rovers and my first motorcycle was a Triumph. Yes, I have met Mr. Whitworth, poured Girling, and drank warm beer from a Lucas refrigerator
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"BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~ |
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#17 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Podunk, Texas
Posts: 748
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Re: 12 point or 6 point socket or box end wrench fitting a nut
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Actually I think Lucas gotta a bad rap due to British electrical stuff being wired “Positive Earth” (which since electrons emanate from the negative terminal and travel to the positive terminal then positive ground makes perfect sense - blame Ben Franklin and others for reversing common sense). Anyhoo, I’ve witnessed several Brit bike owners fry their electrical system by assuming “Negative Earth”, and blaming poor Mr. Lucas….
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"It is hard to search for a black cat in a dark room, particularly if it is not there. Especially if this cat is smart, brave, and polite." Sergei Shoigu, Russian Minister of Defense |
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