sunbeamtiger.co.uk

it may sound like a stupid question but i'm struggling to find a place to buy bolts for my tiger!

in the US almost all bolts are UNF and UNC and are classified as either 'grade 5', 'grade 8' or stainless. these grades don't seem to mean anything over here but essentially grade 5 bolts are marked with 3 notches on the top and are usually gray zinc plated. grade 8 is much higher tensile strength, is marked with 6 notches on the top and is usually yellow zinc plated.

now every bolt i've found in the uk (classified if they are as 'high tensile' or grade 's') has only 3 notches and is what i would call grade '5'.

where can i get the tough yellow bolts with 6 notches on the head?

I always use grade 8.8 high tensile bolts. These are 50-55 tons/sq in.
This website might help: namrick.co.uk/boltspec.asp
Cheers

yep thats the place i bought mine from. these are ISO 8.8 which is comparable to SAE grade 5 and they don't sell anything stronger.

i found out that SAE grade 8 is comparable to ISO 10.9 which is usually only available in metric sizes.

anyway, finning.co.uk sells caterpillar bolts which are SAE grade 8 and have rolled threads too. also namrick made a mistake on one of the lines in my order and sent me 5/16 instead of 3/8 so i'm less than happy with them...

I didnt know caterpillars had bolts (groan...sorry).

I hope Namrick sent you some freebies as compensation. I always get good service from them.

BTW what do you need ISO grade 8 for (and how strong are they anyway?). I think all Tiger bolts are OK at 8.8 arent they?

just an update - i finally resolved this issue.

i called the finnings branch in peterbourgh on 01733 334664 and ordered 4 1/2" UNF 3 1/2" bolts to replace my crossmember bolts. they are CAT dealers and will mail you any bolts at reasonable prices. these are quality bolts with rolled threads and are rated with a tensile strength of 190psi. i paid 1 pound something each which is about the same price as the flimsy stuff from namrick. i feel much happier with these in!

see www .cat. com/cda/files/87031/7/hardwre.pdf to get the part numbers which make ordering over the phone quicker.

i also got a very long (11") tap to chase the tube nut threads from a place called tracy tools. a google search finds their website, but again, you must call to order. a useful place for SAE and even BSF taps/dies.