So, after an urgent search on eBay about a fortnight ago, I ordered a pack of four 1 1/2" x 7/16" UNC bolts and, as it was a small order and I would need them soon, I ordered twenty M10x40 countersunk bolts and 20 nuts to suit for the (loose) teeth on the digger bucket (I only needed 14, but had to get 20). However, when I took off the other stabiliser bracket (a bodge by the previous owner) last week, I realised that the bolts are actually 1/2"! New bolts were ordered PDQ - and the size checked properly this time! While I was at it, I ordered a set of 1/2" UNC taps as the holes were full of rust and, while I thought I had a set, I must have been mistaken as the Metric/UNC set only go to 3/8" and I had to order some 7/16" UNC ones for the Fergy.
The first order's bolts duly arrived and I can't complain at the seller either - quick and good quality stuff. There are only three slight problems - obviously the 7/16" bolts are too small (and I hadn't got any 1/2" ones either!), but the countersunk bolts only just reached through the digger teeth! Then I saw that, somehow, I had ordered wing nuts instead of ordinary ones!
The 1/2" bolts arrived yesterday, along with the taps (pretty quick too). So I trotted out to the garage and put the taps in the box with the 7/16 ones. Yep, I found my 1/2" taps there too!
Being positive, the new stabiliser brackets fitted perfectly and look the part. I had bought some chains/turnbuckles on eBay as the proper David Brown ones are rather scarce (read very expensive) and usually worn out (like mine was) and the turnbuckles will do my job nicely (they can be removed easily if I sell or show the tractor).
The (15) 2" x 7/16" plough bolts came today, along with a tin of brown paint and a can of "cold galvanising spray" (I want that to touch up our front gates that we had galvanised some years ago). The (correct) plough bolt order was held up because they were out of brown paint (bought to make a decent order)!
Does anyone else make such stupid mistakes when ordering?! My next job is to find something that I need to make that will use lots of "unusual" nuts and bolts
