The two screws that hold the retaining plate for the Magic Wand gear stick - 1/4" is too small and 5/16" is too big - did BMC use 9/32" UNF? - It looks UNF but is in aluminium and I would have thought UNC

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

This is the original 1959 to 1968 (or so) pudding stirer fitted to the 850's?

My list says they are 5/16" UNC x 5/8 long, which sounds about right.

Being threaded in to the cast aluminium case, I can't see them being UNF.

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Found out by trial and error with different taps - once I got the right one and cleaned the threads all was well 5/16" UNC is the one

GT what is the list you speak of?

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

Just checked our's in the shed, and it is 1/4 whit. "Go Puddle Sticks"

Can I suggest not using taps for cleaning out threads, especially in soft castings like the gearbox. Get a selection of bolts, with all the different thead types and sizes. Clean the threads on the bolts with a wire wheel and check that they are good (not damaged or burred over). Then cut a cleaning slot lengthways along the threads with a triangular file, if you can, so the leading edge of the slot is purpendicular the the centre line of the bolt (like a tap). Usually one slot is enough. Longer bolts also make them comfortable to use.

These should clean the threads without cutting a new one (that the risk using taps for cleaning threads, as Harley found out http://www.ausmini.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=67354 ).

When using your thread cleaner, try to wind them by hand, although gentle use of a spanner or socket should be OK. In a little then out, clean, and go again. No cutting, only cleaning. In time they will knacker out, so make some new ones.

If your keen, you can make some nuts the same.

The list I speak of is several factory lists that I have. They are mostly complete, but like most factory literature, there are errors.

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Thanks for the advice GT - should be OK - I found the right size in one hole fairly easily just screwing in the tap by hand- once I new the size I had to use the pliers on the tap in the other hole to get it started - obviously a damaged thread hence difficulty getting the screw started after that it span freely - no cutting or binding - blew out the holes with air to get any muck out.

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!