Call me clumsy, but I dropped the tiny little nut that holds the wire on the solenoid. It's lost in the grass until I no longer need it. Can anyone tell me the size and pitch of the stud so I don't have to play guessing games?

 

Sorry I don't know the exact size and thread pitch, but I'm sure it will be a metric thread.

 

I figured it would be. If it were SAE I could tell by looking at it, or at least get close. Unfortunately my eyes aren't calibrated to metric standards.

 

It may be Metric, but I kinda think it is plain old 10-24 (or is it 10-32)

I have an extra ready-to-go starter in a plastic tool-box that says "STARTER" on the end; if it is here in the shop and not out in the other building, we will know for sure in a minute.

 

Fortune was with you tonight; the big red tool-box that says "STARTER" had not yet been relocated to the other building.

According to a known M5 bolt and verified by my trusty Harbor Freight 10-million-piece tap-and-die set, the solenoid stud/nut --- at least on my spare starter --- is

M5 X 0.8 METRIC

 

I have a big powerful magnet on a telescoping stick that has found many a lost nut, washer, and screw amidst the tall grass and in the deep gravel around here, plus a lot of stuff we didn't know was lost; it don't work too well on brass, aluminum, copper, or plastic though.

Several years ago, I was working on a --- I am ashamed to admit --- 1985 Bronco II --- in tall grass and weeds and dropped a unique shoulder bolt thingie down through the engine compartment and into the grass.
My son had some friends over digging fox-holes, setting mines, and building machine-gun nests.
After me searching for an hour or more, I informed those boys of a ten-dollar reward for the missing screw; I was out ten-bucks but they found that screw.

 

Huh, magnet.. I feel kinda stupid now.

Anyhow, thanks for the help, off to the hardware store at lunch today.

 

Not stupid, You just aren't clumsy enough to have enough experience to know how to search for small stuff..

Sometimes a flashlight works on shinny stuff.

 

This is why I never work on grass anymore.

 

I try not to, but years ago I was a mobile mechanic for a small logging/tree trimming company. After a while you get pretty good at finding things. It also helps if you can get a rag under what you are working on.

 

Years ago, I got this assortment:

http://www.harborfreight.com/1001-pi...use-67628.html

: or one very similar; it has saved the day many a time.

Although the description says "SAE and metric", the asst. I got is ALL METRIC.

They range from tiny needle-size machine screws/lock-washers/nuts up to size 6mm or maybe 8mm.

Although I figure they are just standard grade steel, a cheapo nut that fits is way better than the high-grade one lost forever in the weeds.

I also find them handy for determining metric sizes; often, I find one of these nuts or bolts that is the correct fit, then take it with me to the hardware store to make sure I don't come home with the wrong thing.


One other bit of wisdom that I have learned the hard way --- well actually two bits --- , when getting more than one nut, bolt, whatever, don't assume that every one in the bin is alike.
Wooden-headed un-caring customers and employees will toss SAE nuts into the metric bin and vice-versa, and you will get home with one or more that won't fit --- check every single one.

Also, whether it be plumbing, electrical, or hardware, unless it is something that is $6-apiece, I always buy a few more than I need; it never hurts to have extra stuff on hand and will save many trips to town.

It is somewhat frustrating to get home with the one nut you bought and then lose it too ............

 

That and/or a magnet to catch what you drop

 

I'm clumsy and experienced enough, by that I mean that I've dropped about a ton of bolts by now. I guess I've just gotten too spoiled by working on concrete to remember some of the tricks. Years ago I had a dirt (sand) floor in my pole barn. That darn floor ate tons of fasteners and consumed a few tools too. All it ever gave back were about 7lbs of nails. The previous owner burned pallets and cleaned his wood stove out right on the floor. Eventually I poured concrete over it and entombed at least two Craftsman ratchets, a couple of screwdrivers and numerous sockets and extensions. I won't get into how my buddy dumped his Harley trans and all the gears and bearings out in the sand.. three times.

 

I once dropped the only 1/4" drive, 1/4" socket that I had with me, that I really needed, down in between the inner and outer fender of a Chevy pickup. I could see it, but couldn't get it, even with an extending magnet, because it had wedged itself in tight enough to keep it in there. It was a girlfriend's truck and I probably tried 5 or 6 times to get it out, but alas it went to the new owner...Mark

 

20-some-odd years ago, for Christmas, my father-in-law gave both his son-in-laws a nice plastic suit-case full of sockets, ratchets, and extensions, 3/8 and 1/4 drive, metric and SAE, a very nice set.

Even with me using these almost every single day since, I prided myself in keeping every last single piece of this set all present and accounted for and neatly stowed in their proper place within the molded plastic case.

Alas, a couple years ago, the 1/4-drive 3-inch extension flew down into the hidden confines of my engine and frame ---- I looked for hours and hours.

I found the ratchet and socket that was all connected together when the wrench slipped and it all flew apart.

For weeks, I even kept my eyes glued to the road between here and town, hoping I would see my shiny extension laying where it had dropped out.

It still bothers me every time I look in that tool-box.


At the tire-shop I grew up in, almost daily we would be under someone's vehicle and find a tool laying down in some crevice and often the owner would say that they had lost that years ago.