• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A caged nuts problems

JAJohn

Member
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
I'm trying to take off the front apron of my 61 TR3A so I can eventually remove the engine. Everything across the top came off nicely. But in loosening the bolts inside of the wheel wells, all the left side bolts broke off at the bolt head, and on the right side all the bolts are apparently spinning inside the cages. Suggestions?
 

Jim_Stevens

Jedi Warrior
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Definite Achilles’ heel. I’m reassembling mine after a complete body-off restoration, and I’ve had to replace two! On the left side, you can pry open one of the cage sides and remove/replace the nut. Use your vice grips to reform the cage. On the right side you can insert a screwdriver to hold the nut from spinning. Once you contact the paint, the nut should grip.

I have a bag of spares if you need some— Jim

TS 44743L “O”
 

TR3driver

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
Offline

sp53

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
It might be possible on the side where the heads broke off to push and pry the fender over to clear the apron. The side that is spinning try the suggestions. You might be able grind the heads off with a small die grinder and deal with it later. I have seen a saws-all used but there is a lot damage done to the sides.
 

CJD

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
By far the fastest solution is to grind the bolts off to remove the parts. Then go back and assess the cages. Replace the nut in a good cage or drill out a bad cage and replace it all.

For a Triumph restoration a grinder is more useful than a wrench in teardown.
 
OP
J

JAJohn

Member
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
Almost all caged nuts ground off, broke off, cage deformed or drilled out. Is there a suitable replacement? Bolts with crown washers? Bolts with nylon lock? Anything?
 

James A Martin

Senior Member
Country flag
Offline
I used these applied with pop rivets.


McMaster-Carr



90955A113 Aligning Weld Nut, Steel with Steel Retainer, 1/4"-28 Thread Size, packs of 10
1
pack
Dec 6
12.67
per pack
12.67
 

tallguylittlecar

Senior Member
Country flag
Offline
I replaced all the broken cage nuts on my car with the aligning ones from McMaster as well. I drilled holes and used plug welds to hold them in. They are far better than the originals. I suppose the purest would point them out but I prefer what I assume will be a much better functionality over time.
 

CJD

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
There is no better solution than replacing the cage nuts. If you try to use a non-caged option, you will need at least 2 helpers to remove and install the fenders...and it normally takes several removals and re-installs before you get them aligned correctly.
 

71TR6

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
I found it is easiest to go ahead and remove the cage nuts by drilling out the spot welds with a 6mm spot weld drill. Remove the old cage and nut and clamp a replacement cage & nut assembly or the McMaster-Carr nut into position and plug weld to attach using the 6mm holes. A pretty quick fix and it beats mucking around with the old ones. For a couple I clamped everything together using a finger tightened nut/bolt/washer to hold it in position while I welded.

The slotted nut cages are more of a challenge. I wasn't able to find anyone who one makes a decent replacement for those slotted cages with the factory 1/2" square nuts so I ended up rolling my own and refurbishing/reusing the factory nuts from the damaged cages.

Ron
 

Madflyer

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
Look up Fastenal.com They make it all and say 1,700 stores you might have to buy 25 or bag and may be course thread blind nuts pop nuts and many others. a auto section and general . Madflyer
 

71TR6

Jedi Hopeful
Country flag
Offline
I forgot to add that I ordered some replacement cage nuts from England. They are not the same as original since the original cage nuts came with a 1/2" square 1/4-28 nut and the replacements have a smaller 7/16" square 1/4-28 nut. The smaller nut provides slightly less adjustment when fitting body panels. I'm not sure if this matters much but thought I'd post my finding. One can always drill a larger hole in the panel to get more adjustment.

Ron
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
S TR2/3/3A caged nuts on the fenders Triumph 9
E caged nuts Triumph 14
S TR2/3/3A little caged nut headlights Triumph 2
WedgeWorks Caged 8 Triumph 6
petnatcar Cylinder Head Nuts - Tightening Sequence Austin Healey 2
Scotsman TR4/4A Chimney nuts, where do they go Triumph 5
S TR2/3/3A ¼ fine square nuts Triumph 7
wkilleffer MGB MGB clutch slave bleed driving me nuts MG 38
Bocaray TR2/3/3A TR3 Wheel Lug Nuts Size? Triumph 2
shadowfever Midget seat nuts and bolts Spridgets 2
A BN7 Front Hub Stud Nuts Austin Healey 5
T Storing nuts and bolts (so you can find what you need) Austin Healey 7
Z Lug nuts for Minitor rims Spridgets 1
HighAltitudeTR3 T-Series Why are there nuts in my core plugs?! MG 8
D Rear Brake Drum Nuts Austin Healey 15
Lin Water Pump torque value for nuts on studs Austin Healey 1
steveg TR6 Loose wheel nuts after torquing Triumph 2
D TR2/3/3A Wing nuts for gauge panel on TR 3 Triumph 10
K TR2/3/3A Coil nuts? The SW and CB nuts on a Moss gold coil? Triumph 3
T TR2/3/3A Can someone confirm size and thread count on fuel line tube nuts [brass fittings]? Triumph 16
Rob Glasgow Rear Hub Nuts Austin Healey 11
D TR2/3/3A More small nuts [ and studs!] Triumph 2
healeyblue Longbridge side screen star shaped nuts Austin Healey 15
AUSMHLY BJ8 Manifold, how many brass nuts? Austin Healey 2
banjojambo TR2/3/3A TR3A Re-torquing Head Nuts Triumph 7
T TR2/3/3A Is there any problem in putting TR6 plastic wheel covers & TR6 lug nuts on TR3 wheels Triumph 4
Lin Rear Axle Hub Nuts Austin Healey 3
R TR2/3/3A 1961 TR3A's Nuts, Bolts and Screws Triumph 5
C MGB How do you remove "speed nuts"? MG 9
Bob_Spidell Re-torquing Head Nuts Austin Healey 4
D TR2/3/3A Cage nuts, attachment Triumph 6
JimLaney Whitworth Threads or Just Nuts! Spridgets 5
maxwedge5281 healey road wheel lug nuts Austin Healey 7
NutmegCT Loosen those nuts! Restoration & Tools 5
W TR2/3/3A Why a PO cut these holes in rear floor? Also, question re dealing with captive nuts Triumph 6
S Torque setting for U-Bolt nuts Austin Healey 12
KVH General TR What Happened to My Leaf Spring's Nyloc Nuts? Take a Look . . . Triumph 17
F J hooks an wing nuts for attaching hard top to body BT-7 - anyone got photos? Austin Healey 5
K TR2/3/3A The "brass wing nuts" rhat hold the instrument panel on...... Triumph 2
R Engine crank shaft nuts Austin Healey 1
jfarris TR2/3/3A TR3 gauge panel and nuts on gauges Triumph 5
S TR2/3/3A Lug nuts for wire wheel adaptors Triumph 3
Tinkerman TR2/3/3A 1960 TR 3A square spier nuts on headlight assembly Triumph 2
drooartz Welded nuts for Bugeye seat frames Spridgets 2
B 1275 connecting rod nuts/bolts Spridgets 7
B TR6 need 2 air extraction grilles and bezels, screws and nuts Triumph 6
M bj8 lug nuts Austin Healey 2
AHS TR2/3/3A TR3 kick panel captive nuts? Triumph 3
CanberraBJ8 "distance piece" in under tea hub nuts? Austin Healey 3
5 Fender spire nuts Austin Healey 2

Similar threads

Top