MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Nipple sizes ( Oh Err Matron !!)

Hi all.
sorry about the header- been watching too many "Carry On" films recently!
OK - serious question - are all the grease nipples on the MG midget mk III front suspension the same thread size & type?
Cheers all
colin
colin frowen

same thread, yes I am pretty sure they are.

what thread that might be, I can't remember.

also there are a variety of nipples. some are straight out, others at 45 degrees and others droop down at 90 degrees based on what provides best access to said nipples.

Malcolm
M Le Chevalier

Colin. The "grease nipples", more properly called zerk fittings, were 1/4"-28tpi as originally fitted. But, on old cars, you are never quite sure what you are going to find. A broken fitting may have been drilled out and the hole retapped to a larger size fitting to allow a good seal. The 1/4"-28 UNF is a standard size in the Unified National system and, if one obtains a hex head nut to go with one's nipples, threading the nipple into the nut will verify both that the fitting is of the original thread size.

Les
Les Bengtson

I must take issue with you, Les, over your contention that grease nipples are "more properly called zerk fittings".

Zerk, like Hoover and Bic, is a trade name, and I do believe there were grease nipples in use in the world before Mr Zerk got his US patent in 1929.

I shall report back.
Nick and Cherry Scoop

So many nipples, so,little time!
Jamie Watt

Nick

Technically your correct...

No one here in the usa knows what a an adjustable wrench is, but everyine knows what a crescent wrench is, just like saying locking adjustable pliers will earn you an elitist kick in the butt from your friends ... asking for a pair of vise grips will only get you a shake of the head in disapproval of use from the same friends

Sometimes a brand has a life all its own

Scotch tape to hold your zerk fittings while using a cresent wrench to hammer the vise grips into place

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget



Sometimes a brand has a life all its own

Scotch tape to hold your zerk fittings while using a cresent wrench to hammer the vise grips into place

Translated: black whammy to hold your nipples while using a shifter to hammer the mole grips in place...
d brenchley

On these cosmopolitan boards, one learns to translate terms from strange foreign tongues, but I don't think I have ever heard the term "Crescent Wrench" mentioned before. It sounds like it might be a pair of Stillsons to me, though why one refers to them as a pair, like a pair of trousers, I cannot imagine.
Never heard of Black Whammy either, but then those folk from Hampshire are a funny lot.
Guy Weller

"The first pipe, or stillson, wrench was created by Daniel C. Stillson while working as a mechanic at the Walworth Company, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] On October 12, 1869, U.S. patent #95,744 was issued to Stillson.[2]" -- Wikipedia.

I think the reason for "a pair" of stilsons, is because often two stilson wrenches are used together when working on pipe work. That's my educated guess, based on my usage of them. :).

Also from Wiki,
Crescent, originally called the Crescent Tool Company, is a brand of hand tools. Founded in 1907, the Crescent brand has changed ownership multiple times. It is currently owned by Apex Tool Group, LLC as part of its Hand Tools division. It is best known for its style of adjustable wrench.[1][2]

The internet has become so useful. :).

Lawrence Slater

I see that you are in "Research" mode today Lawrence!

I must admit, I would have sworn blind that Stillson was a UK English term. Just shows, one shouldn't believe everything that one thinks one already knows!
Guy Weller

Yeah me too. I thought stilsons were English too. Must be growing up in the dregs of the Empire, when we thought that everything any good, must be British. lol.
Lawrence Slater

I thought the pair bit was because there are two jaws as the same term is used for pliers,mole grips etc.

Trev
Trevor Mason

Sounds reasonable Trevour. But then one jaw wouldn't be much good would it.
Guy Weller

Well, as good as one hand clapping anyway. ;)
Lawrence Slater

Pliers, scissors, forceps, tweezers, tongs, etc, all are the names given to metal(usually) blades, joined together with a pivot. Hence it's a pair of them.

Mole(M. K. Mole and Son.) grips (locking pliers) and Stilsons (pipe wrenches) are brand names. So a pair of Mole grips or Stilsons, is actually two of each grip or wrench. And that ties in with my guess, that often you use two wrenches or locking pliers at a time.

But, if for example you are using Stilsons or the like to remove the rear hub nut on a Spridget ( as some people on here do , prior to making a tool :) ), then you wouldn't use the word pair; Although, I think I often have.

Lawrence Slater

Hmm,
Mole grips, named after Mr Mole and Son, sounds to me like a pair of individuals, not singular. ;-)

But I do see your logic. Even so, I think I am just as likely to refer to a pair of Stillsons, or a pair of Mole grips as to say the Stilsons, or the Mole grips even though I am referring to just one item. I doubt that I am consistent eitherway.

Guy W

Maybe M.K. Mole was his mother. So strictly not a pair, as they could have been different genders. lol. Unless one of them was transgender. LOL
Lawrence Slater

I think this is straying too far off topic. We should be considering a pair of nipples. Or a pair of zerks for those weird folks across the pond. I know which pair I would rather focus on.
Guy W

Is there room to stray around a pair of nipples? I suppose it depends on the size.
Lawrence Slater

I've always referred to pliers as a pair, but not stillsons or mole grips.

On the subject of the empire and British companies, I always thought that Briggs and Stratton were British, but it turns out they were American!
Dave O'Neill 2

Mole grips and stiltons are not a common phrase here

Here its just a pipe wrench and vise grips ( pair of vise grips) ...but like you, I dont know why we say (pair) as in pair of pliers

Curious... is "pliers" a brand name ?

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

This thread was discussed between 24/10/2014 and 27/10/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.