Allen keys....metric and imperial ?

[castaway]

I have an Allen bolt on my very old Colnbrook furler. Problem is that its very tight and the 3mm key I have been using is not a perfect fit...very very close though.

I was wondering if they made imperial size keys back then ? If so what would be the size that would be 1/2 a gnats whisker bigger than 3mm ??

Thanks

Nick

 

[DavidTav]

Well I believe 1/8th inch is 3.3mm - does that sound like it would be the size you need?

 

[tcm]

1/8th of an inch is 1/8 of 25.4mm, or just over 3mm, about 3.2mm

 

[Salty John]

Yes, you can get imperial allen keys.

1/8"

 

[Spyro]

Or get a larger metric key and file it down

 

[lw395]

If you can file the allen key down, it's too soft and should be binned!

 

[simonfraser]

it's prob stuck/corroded, WD40 wouldn't go amis whilst you sort the correct key.

 

[pappaecho]

I managed to get imperial allen keys at an engineers merchant in Gosport some 3 years ago. Worse case you could borrow mine if you are local. Definately lots of WD40 first!

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I've just had a massive clear out of the garage, including a tool box of my fathers which had tools going back to the 50's ! I am pretty sure there is a set of allen keys in there, if you need them.

 

[boguing]

Come on. There is an old Chinese proverb which is often misquoted as 'he who dies with the most toys wins', actually, it is most TOOLS. You know you want to.

 

[castaway]

I just spoke to my father in law ..he was a tool maker before retirement...and he thought it would likely be BA size..

Thanks for the answers chaps..

Nick.

 

[DownWest]

Our friends on the other side of the ditch still havn't grasped metrics. All inch sizes there. So ask a US friend for a loan.
A