[xk] Screws for Spare Tire Access Door

XK
1

I need advice on where to obtain 10-32 x 3/8 FH screws with
a reduced head diameter.

Commercially available 10-32 flat head machine screws have a
larger head (0.352) than the screws that Jaguar originaly
used (0.309) for the hinges on the trap door (spare tire
access) and the fold down access door (between the boot and
the passenger compartment). The larger head screws protrude
above the hinge, and cause the paint to chip, as you can see
under the center hinge of my restored boot.

Deepening the countersink in the hinge (and extending that
into the the wood) might work, but not where they attach to
metal (going into caged nuts) because the taper on the
countersink will bottom on the metal before tightening the
hinge plate.

Bill Bassett has 10-32 stainless with a .339 inch diameter,
which would get us about half way, but would still require
turning them down to make them flush.

Suggestions will be appreciated. I need 25 of them.

Thank you,
Monte
1960 DHC
S838594

http://www.jag-lovers.org/v.htm?1235685275--
p8099
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2

British Tools & Fasteners
315.946.9400
www.britishfasteners.com

Andre
XK140 FHC
E-type S2 OTS— On Thu, 2/26/09, p8099 monte.edwards@verizon.net wrote:

I need advice on where to obtain 10-32 x 3/8 FH screws with
a reduced head diameter.

3

Go to MCMaster Carr… they have a great online website and lots of
hardware…

john shuck

I need advice on where to obtain 10-32 x 3/8 FH screws with
a reduced head diameter.

4

In reply to a message from john shuck sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:

John,

McMaster Carr was the first of several places I tried,
since I’ve been using them since my restoration started.
No luck.
Do you have a catalog reference that I didn’t find?

Monte–
The original message included these comments:

Go to MCMaster Carr… they have a great online website and lots of
hardware…

–
p8099
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5

In reply to a message from p8099 sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:

Hello,

Sorry to butt in in here again, but while you’re there can
you please see if ANYONE ANYWHERE has small countersunk (or
even ANY HEAD) 3.BA screws?

These were used for instance in the door and boot (tool lid
in a MKV) light switches and in some hinges or chrome trim.
I presume since the same hardware was used in early XK120’s
that someone here must have had the same problem. I have
bought countersunk BSF screws with various finishes from the
UK but BA seems to be very hard to find.

This brought something up that I have been wondering about
some time, lets see if anyone knows.

Cheers,
Pekka T.–
The original message included these comments:

In reply to a message from john shuck sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:
John,
McMaster Carr was the first of several places I tried,
since I’ve been using them since my restoration started.
No luck.
Do you have a catalog reference that I didn’t find?
Monte

–
MKV 3.5L DHC, E-type 2+2 Ser.1 MOD, XJ6C MOD, XJ8 Executive
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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6

Pekka,

Odd numbered BA screws are getting kind of hard to find these days. I have a
very small stock of 3BA x 1/2" cheesehead steel. These are used to secure
the petrol gauge sender unit to the tank. I could spare two or three but not
really any more if that helps at all. They came from Namrick in the UK.

Eric
Church Stretton, UK----- Original Message -----
From: “ptelivuo” ptelivuo@ultirender.com
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 9:41 AM
Subject: RE: [xk] Screws for Spare Tire Access Door

In reply to a message from p8099 sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:

Hello,

Sorry to butt in in here again, but while you’re there can
you please see if ANYONE ANYWHERE has small countersunk (or
even ANY HEAD) 3.BA screws?

These were used for instance in the door and boot (tool lid
in a MKV) light switches and in some hinges or chrome trim.
I presume since the same hardware was used in early XK120’s
that someone here must have had the same problem. I have
bought countersunk BSF screws with various finishes from the
UK but BA seems to be very hard to find.

This brought something up that I have been wondering about
some time, lets see if anyone knows.

Cheers,
Pekka T.

7

Sometimes you have to search thru the on-line catalog a little. Sometimes
they name things differently. Good Luck

In reply to a message from john shuck sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:

John,

McMaster Carr was the first of several places I tried,
since I’ve been using them since my restoration started.
No luck.
Do you have a catalog reference that I didn’t find?

Monte

8

Hi Pekka

I have had pretty good results finding BA and other special fasteners in
model rail road, model engineering and antique clock part suppliers in UK.
You might want to try: Nu-Screw & Nut Ltd., 311 Neasden Lane North, London
England NW10 0AG Tel: (44) 0208 452 8631 Fax: (44) 0208 452 2987.
Best
Klaus
812394
815666BW-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
ptelivuo
Sent: Friday, February 27, 2009 4:41 AM
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: RE: [xk] Screws for Spare Tire Access Door

In reply to a message from p8099 sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:

Hello,

Sorry to butt in in here again, but while you’re there can
you please see if ANYONE ANYWHERE has small countersunk (or
even ANY HEAD) 3.BA screws?

These were used for instance in the door and boot (tool lid
in a MKV) light switches and in some hinges or chrome trim.
I presume since the same hardware was used in early XK120’s
that someone here must have had the same problem. I have
bought countersunk BSF screws with various finishes from the
UK but BA seems to be very hard to find.

This brought something up that I have been wondering about
some time, lets see if anyone knows.

Cheers,
Pekka T.

The original message included these comments:

In reply to a message from john shuck sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:
John,
McMaster Carr was the first of several places I tried,
since I’ve been using them since my restoration started.
No luck.
Do you have a catalog reference that I didn’t find?
Monte

–
MKV 3.5L DHC, E-type 2+2 Ser.1 MOD, XJ6C MOD, XJ8 Executive
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.3/1973 - Release Date: 02/26/09
07:03:00

9

Look for 3BA countersunk here, (in USA):

http://www.britishfasteners.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BTF&Category_Code=68

Allan–
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10

Here is an e-mail I received from Andre Haluska on 2/19/08 re. the screws:

Otto, Klaus, Rich, and all you 140 folks on the
List:
The size screw to attach the hinge of the boot
deck lid to the body of the XK140 is a BA2. I
ordered these from
http://www.britishfasteners.com/images/catalog.pdf
They run 30 cents per screw. It is a perfect
fit once the thick coat of paint was cleaned out
of the countersunk hole. Once again thank you
fellas for the support.
Andre Haluska
XK140FHC
E-type SII OTS

P.S. thank you again Andre for the 6 screws you sent me, they are a perfect
fit.

Regards, Otto M.

**************A Good Credit Score is 700 or Above. See yours in just 2 easy
steps!
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%3D62%26bcd%3DfebemailfooterNO62)

11

In reply to a message from p8099 sent Thu 26 Feb 2009:

Monte’’ Experienced the same problem with c.s flat head machine
screws in different areas.

Here is what solved the problem. End facing the screws on a lathe
and recut the grooves with a hack saw. saved a lot of running
around.

Lord Jim–
Lord jim
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12

In reply to a message from Ottman0401@aol.com sent Fri 27 Feb 2009:

Otto,

Thank you for confirming that it’s the BA2 that I need.
I had never heard of BA screws before, and did a bit of
research,that might be of interest to others who are
following this discussion.

From Wikopedia:
‘‘British Association or BA screw threads are a largely
obsolete set of small screw threads, the largest being 0BA
at 6 mm diameter. They were, and to some extent still are,
used for miniature instruments and modeling.
BA threads are still used in some precision instruments,
such as optics and moving-coil meters, relays etc.’’

And from British Fasteners in Lyon NY:
‘‘The 47.5 thread pitch was ideal for holding in thin sheet
metal work,such as clock wheels. Rounded tips and crests of
the thread meant less power needed to cut the thread, and
less wear on the tools.
Most engineers use 2, 4, 6 and 8BA, and watchmakers add 10,
12 and 14BA.
By using the even numbers only, the tapping drill for one
size becomes the clearance drill for the other. There are
lots of BA fasteners on British cars, but only those 1/4�
diameter or less. BA fasteners need their own spanners.’’

I compared the BA2 to the 10-32:
BA2: 0.1850’’ Outer Diameter,31.35 Threads per inch
10-32: 0.1900’’ OD,32 Threads per inch.

Should be just enough difference with my 10-32 Tee nuts to
provide a slight interference fit.

Looks like British Fasteners is the only US supplier. They
are out of the 3/8’’, so I’ve ordered some 1/2’’ that I’ll cut
down.

I appreciate all of the help.

Regards,
Monte_______________________________________________________

–
The original message included these comments:

The size screw to attach the hinge of the boot
deck lid to the body of the XK140 is a BA2. I
ordered these from
http://www.britishfasteners.com/images/catalog.pdf
They run 30 cents per screw. It is a perfect
fit once the thick coat of paint was cleaned out
of the countersunk hole. Once again thank you

–
p8099
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

13

In reply to a message from p8099 sent Fri 27 Feb 2009:

Thanks, very informative.

That just leaves Jaguar and Rolls Royce that were clever
enough to also use 3.BA that is about to become impossible
to get from anywhere.

And another great big thank you, both Eric and that
britishfasteners.com tip, I have my basket already full of
various BA screws and other hard to get things. Although I
have to admit it feels kind of perverse to be buying British
fasteners from the US of A. :slight_smile:

2.BA is relatively easy to get in many different forms form
the usuals, as it was used in the XK’s in so many places.

BTW on the MKV the spare wheel door hinges are connected
with 1/4’’ BSF countersunk, which I bought from Spalding
fasteners in England, but now I’ll get the nuts from the
USA. Bigger BSF is available from Manners and SNG, but I had
not been able to get 1/4’’ BSF nuts and they’ve even got the
Philidias (or whatever) old type of self locking
nuts…hmmmm am I goin nuts? in that case I should do a
concours restoration where every washer and bolt and nut is
as it was in 1950. Ok, I admit, that’s a bit too much! :wink:

Cheers,
Pekka T.–
The original message included these comments:

Otto,
Thank you for confirming that it’s the BA2 that I need.
I had never heard of BA screws before, and did a bit of
research,that might be of interest to others who are
following this discussion.

From Wikopedia:
Most engineers use 2, 4, 6 and 8BA, and watchmakers add 10,
12 and 14BA.
I appreciate all of the help.
Regards,
Monte

–
MKV 3.5L DHC, E-type 2+2 Ser.1 MOD, XJ6C MOD, XJ8 Executive
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

14

I’ve got boxes of BA, Whitworth, BSF, UNF & UNC taps and dies lying
about.
Any offers to come and sort them out?
Seriously, if anyone in the area needs to borrow any just shout.

DJOn 28 Feb 2009, at 21:12, ptelivuo wrote:

In reply to a message from p8099 sent Fri 27 Feb 2009:

Thanks, very informative.

That just leaves Jaguar and Rolls Royce that were clever
enough to also use 3.BA that is about to become impossible
to get from anywhere.

And another great big thank you, both Eric and that
britishfasteners.com tip, I have my basket already full of
various BA screws and other hard to get things. Although I
have to admit it feels kind of perverse to be buying British
fasteners from the US of A. :slight_smile:

2.BA is relatively easy to get in many different forms form
the usuals, as it was used in the XK’s in so many places.

BTW on the MKV the spare wheel door hinges are connected
with 1/4’’ BSF countersunk, which I bought from Spalding
fasteners in England, but now I’ll get the nuts from the
USA. Bigger BSF is available from Manners and SNG, but I had
not been able to get 1/4’’ BSF nuts and they’ve even got the
Philidias (or whatever) old type of self locking
nuts…hmmmm am I goin nuts? in that case I should do a
concours restoration where every washer and bolt and nut is
as it was in 1950. Ok, I admit, that’s a bit too much! :wink:

Cheers,
Pekka T.

–
The original message included these comments:

Otto,
Thank you for confirming that it’s the BA2 that I need.
I had never heard of BA screws before, and did a bit of
research,that might be of interest to others who are
following this discussion.

From Wikopedia:
Most engineers use 2, 4, 6 and 8BA, and watchmakers add 10,
12 and 14BA.
I appreciate all of the help.
Regards,
Monte

–
MKV 3.5L DHC, E-type 2+2 Ser.1 MOD, XJ6C MOD, XJ8 Executive
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php

15

Yea, that’s the trouble - “in the area”. I have been trying to get an
unmatched, dirty, used - whatever set of BSF taps and dies together
for years now (nearly there, though) without forking over any of the
personal or collective ‘family jewels’ in the process and that has
become a real chore. These, along with all the attendant screws,
bolts, etc. are everywhere ELSE - oceans away. Further, in the USA,
these things are deemed expensive because of the ‘not over here tax’
or maybe it’s the ‘LBC’ or ‘Jaguar’ tax. Please don’t mention that you
might just be working on a Roller or somesuch as you have just upped
the ante to nosebleed you Daddy-Bigbucks you. If one needs a screw or
a tap or die one generally needs it now. Oh, one can, and sometimes
does, use another size, usually more native, to do the task. But,
depending on how anal one is, projects languish, pictures that were
not taken of the stripdown lead to memory infarction and yet another
unfinished item lying about in need of something or other. And the
memory fades even more. Sears and other US companies (Little Giant,
etc.) used to sell Whitworth (maybe others) tools. No more AFAIK. All
are sold here now for more than they are really, or perhaps ever were,
worth. Please, no economics lessons.

Just my tuppence, Brian

I’ve got boxes of BA, Whitworth, BSF, UNF & UNC taps and dies lying
about.
Any offers to come and sort them out? Seriously, if anyone in the
area needs to borrow any just shout.

16

Just to add to the pain, my step brother scrapped literally tons of
whitworth, bsf, etc. nuts bolts, tooling etc.
Never even bothered to mention it.
All brand new still in protective coverings.

DJOn 1 Mar 2009, at 15:49, Brian Ternamian wrote:

Yea, that’s the trouble - “in the area”. I have been trying to get
an unmatched, dirty, used - whatever set of BSF taps and dies
together for years now (nearly there, though) without forking over
any of the personal or collective ‘family jewels’ in the process and
that has become a real chore. These, along with all the attendant
screws, bolts, etc. are everywhere ELSE - oceans away. Further, in
the USA, these things are deemed expensive because of the ‘not over
here tax’ or maybe it’s the ‘LBC’ or ‘Jaguar’ tax. Please don’t
mention that you might just be working on a Roller or somesuch as
you have just upped the ante to nosebleed you Daddy-Bigbucks you. If
one needs a screw or a tap or die one generally needs it now. Oh,
one can, and sometimes does, use another size, usually more native,
to do the task. But, depending on how anal one is, projects
languish, pictures that were not taken of the stripdown lead to
memory infarction and yet another unfinished item lying about in
need of something or other. And the memory fades even more. Sears
and other US companies (Little Giant, etc.) used to sell Whitworth
(maybe others) tools. No more AFAIK. All are sold here now for more
than they are really, or perhaps ever were, worth. Please, no
economics lessons.

Just my tuppence, Brian

I’ve got boxes of BA, Whitworth, BSF, UNF & UNC taps and dies lying
about.
Any offers to come and sort them out? Seriously, if anyone in the
area needs to borrow any just shout.

17

The joys of being an ex-British Colony, with strong residual ties.

We have absolutely no problems getting BSF/BSW/BA spanners and taps and
dies. Any decent size swap meet will usually have one or two vendors with
a good choice of taps/dies similarly priced/available as their UNF/UNC and
Metric offerings, at prices far cheaper than you pay at a retail tool shops,
and there are any number of really cheap second-hand/used taps/dies
offerings individually or in sets if you do not need brand-new.

But when it comes for Jaguar Tool-Kit tools, rather than spanners/taps and
dies to actually use, this of course gives the local Australian/NZ
opportunists the opening to exploit the relative rarity of BSW/BSF spanners
in USA, and run-of-the-mill BSF/BSW spanners are regularly offered on Ebay
(USA) as being suitable for Jaguar/MG/Austin Healey etc, and sadly they
still get their “sucker” prices. There are about three NZ vendors (and one
Danish vendor) who really does well in this regard - plus others of course.
(Ebay really ought to do something about such long term consistent dishonest
listings, but I guess all to hard, and Ebay like their commissions/fees
regardless)

I have a box of old BSF/BSW spanners picked up over the years for 20c/50c
each, and maybe $1-2 if something interesting or an as-new condition SNAIL.
Have to be 300 or so (don’t ask why - no, not to flood Ebay). Once upon a
time, amongst these 50c tools you would always find a few sizes/ brands/
styles correct for Mark 4/ 5/ XK120 tool-kits but no longer - the local
vendors now know the correct Jaguar spanners, even without the benefit of
JAGUAR marked on them.

Roger Payne - XK140MC OTS; E-Type 4.2 S.1 OTS; DSV8.
Canberra.-----Original Message-----
From: owner-xk@jag-lovers.org [mailto:owner-xk@jag-lovers.org] On Behalf Of
Brian Ternamian
Sent: Monday, 2 March 2009 2:49 AM
To: xk@jag-lovers.org
Subject: Subject: Re: [xk] Screws for Spare Tire Access Door

Yea, that’s the trouble - “in the area”. I have been trying to get an
unmatched, dirty, used - whatever set of BSF taps and dies together
for years now (nearly there, though) without forking over any of the
personal or collective ‘family jewels’ in the process and that has
become a real chore. These, along with all the attendant screws,
bolts, etc. are everywhere ELSE - oceans away. Further, in the USA,
these things are deemed expensive because of the ‘not over here tax’
or maybe it’s the ‘LBC’ or ‘Jaguar’ tax. Please don’t mention that you
might just be working on a Roller or somesuch as you have just upped
the ante to nosebleed you Daddy-Bigbucks you. If one needs a screw or
a tap or die one generally needs it now. Oh, one can, and sometimes
does, use another size, usually more native, to do the task. But,
depending on how anal one is, projects languish, pictures that were
not taken of the stripdown lead to memory infarction and yet another
unfinished item lying about in need of something or other. And the
memory fades even more. Sears and other US companies (Little Giant,
etc.) used to sell Whitworth (maybe others) tools. No more AFAIK. All
are sold here now for more than they are really, or perhaps ever were,
worth. Please, no economics lessons.

Just my tuppence, Brian

I’ve got boxes of BA, Whitworth, BSF, UNF & UNC taps and dies lying
about.
Any offers to come and sort them out? Seriously, if anyone in the
area needs to borrow any just shout.

18

In reply to a message from Roger Payne sent Sun 1 Mar 2009:

Hi there,

I got a tip on the Pre-XK forum and bought off e-bay all the
BA and BSF taps and dies I needed quite inexpensively from
model engineering stores in the UK. Also spanners and socket
sets in BSW came easy this way (from aero engineering
hardware stores), only shipping was a bit expensive.

But thanks again for that US webshop link for screws, nuts
and bolts, I am currently finishing my shopping basket for
screws that I have so far been unable to find or have been
paying far too much for the usuals (5/16’’ and 1/4’’ BSF for
instance) or not getting the right head, finish, tip or length.

As although I have the taps and dies I wasn’t too interested
in starting to make my own screws… :wink:

Cheers,
Pekka T.

PS. I hate those ‘‘toolkit’’ e-bay offerings, I would like to
also buy the correct jack (the later type with a ratchet
handle) and starting crank, but the only spanners etc. I
bought from Stoneleigh and I believe Beaulieu would also be
good, as these were general ‘‘Snail’’ brand tools (King Dick
etc.) without anything Jaguar specific (MKV & early XK120)
and relatively inexpensive in the UK. The e-bay prices are
often just crazy!–
The original message included these comments:

But when it comes for Jaguar Tool-Kit tools, rather than spanners/taps and
dies to actually use, this of course gives the local Australian/NZ
opportunists the opening to exploit the relative rarity of BSW/BSF spanners
in USA, and run-of-the-mill BSF/BSW spanners are regularly offered on Ebay
(USA) as being suitable for Jaguar/MG/Austin Healey etc, and sadly they
still get their ‘‘sucker’’ prices. There are about three NZ vendors (and one
Danish vendor) who really does well in this regard - plus others of course.
(Ebay really ought to do something about such long term consistent dishonest
listings, but I guess all to hard, and Ebay like their commissions/fees
regardless)

–
MKV 3.5L DHC, E-type 2+2 Ser.1 MOD, XJ6C MOD, XJ8 Executive
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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19

In reply to a message from ptelivuo sent Sat 28 Feb 2009:

SCREWS BOOT AND MISC.
If you want to be 100% original with all hardware----you must MAKE
THEM-most of the small stuff you cannot find or buy.

ED D–
CRVDRIVER
ILLINOIS, United States
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