wayfarerstranger Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 does anyone know where you can buy a tap or a die by themselves without buying an entire set ? i need a die i think it is 3/4 standard thread ? anyway i removed the steering wheel on one of my cars & the threads on the column got a little messed up just enough that the nut won`t go on ,, so i need tostraighten out the thread so the nut will go back on ,, i checked lowes, northern tool , retool , autozone, advanced no luck .. maybe sears / and input would be great Quote
BobT-47P15 Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 How about a flea market. Some guys have lots of used tools for sale....no telling what they may have. Might take a bit of looking. Quote
Norm's Coupe Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Don't know if you can buy them separately, unless you go to some sort of industrial supply house. Of course they normally charge higher prices so it may be cheaper to buy the whole set someplace else. I have a Craftsman set and it's a nice set. However, it was purchased before KMart bought out Sears. Can't say how good the Craftsman set might be since the buyout. I've noticed that the Craftsman tools since the buyout look like the cheap stuff you use to get from KMart before the buyout. Even the clothes are not as good. Use to buy my everyday shoes there for years. Same kind and style over and over again. They were always made in the USA. Bought another pair recently. Got them home, looked inside and said "Made In China". Quality doesn't look near as good as the others and they charged the same price. Guess I'll have to go someplace else next time around. Quote
Tony_Urwin Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Pep Boys sells them in the nice plastic packages along with a drill bit for $5 or $6. Maybe the other chain stores, too? It's a pretty good idea to buy a set, though, if you are going to work on old cars. I used mine today to clean the rusty threads on my cylinder head. Quote
1948Skip Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Wayfarerstranger, Your best bet is to buy from Sears, a thread restorer kit. It contains taps and dies for just the project you mentioned. I will check my set and see if it contains the two dies for 3/4 threads. McMaster-Carr is a good place to check on a single tool. I believe the thread is going to be the fine thread on the column. Skip Quote
1948Skip Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Wayfarerstranger, Ok, I went out to the garage and checked my rethreading kit. It does not go up to 3/4. It does however have two (2) thread files. Thread files are square and have a differant thread on each side. This gives me eight different threads to use. I checked the McMaster-Carr catalog and found some dies that should work for you. here are the part numbers: 3/4-16--2667A14 and 3/4-10--2667A19 Check www.mcmaster-carr.com for prices. Skip Quote
1948Skip Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Wayfarerstranger, I am in some what of a error. McMaster-Carr has two sets of dies that are $9.89 a set. One set has the 3/4-10 die and the other set has the 3/4-16 die. One set is fine thread and one set is course thread. The course set is: 2667A13 and costs $9.89 + shipping The fine set is: 2667A14 and costs $9.89 + shipping If you plug into the McMaster site and punch in the part numbers you will get a page showing these re-threading dies. Hope I did not confuse you and this last post clears things up. Skip Quote
Tony_Urwin Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Sorry, Chance, I didn't read your post carefully enough. I had exactly the same problem with my Dodge truck. The previous owner had bought a new steering gear/column, but when I went to intall it, the threads were too dinged up on the end to get the nut on it. The guys here on the forum recommended that I buy the thread files from McMaster-Carr. The files worked great for me. Quote
Mechanik Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Ace hardware carrys singles. Not sure if they will have that size though. Get in your phone book and look for a local machinist supply. They always have the best selection. Thread files are nice, they have bailed me out in more then a few situations. However I prefer the split dies that you place at the bottom of the stud, push them together around the stud, put a socket on it and then back it off. It cleanes and straigntens the threads on the way off. These are cool too,...a bit expensive but worth the $$ http://www.newmantools.com/nes.htm Is the end of the column mushroomed a bit? Or the threads galded? Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Chance...the thread file is a most excellent item to have in your arsenal of tools. Plus they will help restore threads where in your case the butt of the threads are damaged without starting in a position that could untimately damage the lower good threads...They are very inexpensive and universal in appliation this site has them listed in SAE and Metric Hopefiully the posted link will work... http://www.toolsandsupplies.com/detail.asp?product_id=WF%2057250 Quote
Young Ed Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 Chance before you go buying stuff to I'd check that size again. 3/4 seems too big to me. What size wrench does the nut take? Either way take the nut with you so you make sure you get the proper size and thread count. Quote
Plymouthy Adams Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 That is the beauty of the thread file..diameter is of no matter...the file has 8 lands on it..covers both fine and course threads per inch. You normally have a choice of 28, 24, 20, 18, 16, 14, 13, 10 TPI to choose from. or at least something in that order as I have not paid that much attentio to mine..they will last a lifetime with care..(don't leave in yard..rust and lawmowers are rough on them) Quote
wayfarerstranger Posted July 25, 2007 Author Report Posted July 25, 2007 i have tons of taps & dies i just don`t have anything that large, i probably have more tools than sears !! when my father passed away i got his whole shop over 50 years of accumulation there must be 25 large tool boxes everything u can imagine ,, there probably is a thread file there somewhere , but it might be easier to buy one than locate it . i`m always finding stuff i didn`t know i had .. as far as size i was only going by a bolt that was big enough for the nut , if anyone has the correct size please let me know , i`ll try to find a thread file locally if no luck i`ll order one , does anyone have a close up picture of one .. again thanx Quote
Jerry Roberts Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 To see a picture go to ebay and type in thread file . I bought a new one for one cent and seven dollars shipping . Quote
Jim Yergin Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 According to my factory parts book, the thread on the steering wheel nut should be 5/8-18. Hope that helps. Jim Yergin Quote
Chester Brzostowski Posted July 25, 2007 Report Posted July 25, 2007 According to my factory parts book, the thread on the steering wheel nut should be 5/8-18.Hope that helps. Jim Yergin Hay Jim, I am locked into Virginia this weekend and if you are around I would like to take a ride out to your house and check out your woody. Maybe I will drive over in the 29. Drop me an email if this is a good weekend for you. Chet… Quote
Jim Yergin Posted July 26, 2007 Report Posted July 26, 2007 Chet, Sounds good to me. I sent you an email. Jim Quote
1just4don Posted July 26, 2007 Report Posted July 26, 2007 I buy what I need thinking I will use time and time again. I forget now is the bolt part or the nut part goofed up or both?? I do have a 3/4 course I use to chase threads with. Might have a 5/8 too that goes in the hole. the burr cutter isnt as easy to need cause that would be for like a bolt thread chaser NOT the hole. I "may" have 5/8 course too, I forget. My regular whole set quits at 1/2 course and fine,,,so IF I have one it has to be seperate bought or acquired. Dont have near as much call for those bigger sizes so usually wait till need arrises,,, IF these are fine threads for 'sure' I dont have those. Depending on what you NEED AND I have it I could mail it to you if you mail it back when done,,,its not like I use those every day!! What do you need specificly?? Other place to get the use of one here for a couple minutes job like that is the local blacksmith shop,,,Do you have one of those?? OR a place that works on tractors,like a farm implement shop/ store . Works best IF you can take your nut or whatever to the shop,,, I also 'borrow' for a few minutes time, the part IF necessary!! Good luck -don- Quote
wayfarerstranger Posted July 27, 2007 Author Report Posted July 27, 2007 hey u r the best !!! thanx for the offer ,,, but it is 3/4 fine thread ... i was unable to fine anything locally . i know i`ll find what i need if i keep checking with RETOOL the used tool store close to me ,,, after a while of filing away different size files i was able to get the nut back on ~~~ Quote
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