G’day Norm, Max and Vint
Norm, I had that same idea. I have a great relationship with my local bolt shop and they help me out a heap with all the strange things I make and fix. I asked and they had hardly any 1\2” BSF nuts and what they did have weren’t long enough to get a full starter cup nut out of. I have a few in my collection of bits and pieces but they’re all too short. Hence I’m trying to make them from scratch.
I had a couple of goes at turning an internal thread but there wasn’t enough room with that inside diameter given my skill level. I made two HSS tools but once I’d formed them with appropriate clearances both had way too much chatter. I could probably make one out of carbide but I don’t have access to a d bit grinder.
I ordered a tap, which was double the price I usually pay. I’m hoping that when I’ve finished the big custom fabrication job I’m working on here it should be waiting for me.
If you’ve made some before I get mine done please let me know.
Yes Max, it’s a very expensive way to get nuts but I won’t be selling these mowers. They’re for me to use. I went to a friend who has a massive pile of old mowers but he’d had a clean out of older Victas a few years ago and there was nothing that fitted. I don’t know about the other things you mentioned but I asked about and there was no reliable source as far as I could work out so I got irritated and decided to make some.
