LittleBill21
Elite Member
If it was something we still used in other day to day stuff sure, forcing to learn something that provides no other benefit, no sorry I rather learn something useful
The problem with global manufacturing
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RayIN
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Why The US Rejects The Metric System
The metric system, also known as the International System of Units (SI), is used by almost every country in the world for its simplicity and universal
scientificorigin.com
LittleBill21
Elite Member
Yea people afraid of change and cost, oh well, I'm ready for change and checkbooks to be gone too, but that might turn into a 50 page threadWhy The US Rejects The Metric System
The metric system, also known as the International System of Units (SI), is used by almost every country in the world for its simplicity and universal
ultrarunner
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It took about a day on a construction site in Europe to convert… when in Rome do as the Romans do.
I found it interesting that even not being called American Standard much of the plumbing is sized to American Standard such as copper pipe, hydrants and such.
1/2” copper was 1/2 zoll and 3/4 zoll and full zoll…
I found it interesting that even not being called American Standard much of the plumbing is sized to American Standard such as copper pipe, hydrants and such.
1/2” copper was 1/2 zoll and 3/4 zoll and full zoll…
tjandrews
Silver Member
Nothing new here. I have a New Holland 975 combine from 1969. It was built in Belgium, but has a US-built Ford inline 6 engine, so OEM bolts were metric on the machine, but SAE on the engine. The designer was aware of the issue, and the manual is very proud of the fact that combine bolt sizes were chosen so that they could be replaced with common SAE, even listing closest equivalent sizes.
Didn't help much with the nuts on adjustment studs, though.
Didn't help much with the nuts on adjustment studs, though.
Consider using a 12 point wrench/socket next time. 13mm and 1/2” are completely interchangeable in 12 point tools. It ain’t like you’re torquing a 5/16 or 6mm bolt to thousands of foot pounds of torque, especially on anything to do with a battery. A 11/16 will work quite nicely for a 17mm or vice versa.
Like someone else said, all my high school teachers were saying (before 1976,that is) metric is coming, metric is coming. Well, it sorta did in the 80’s when federally funded highway markers were added for the metric system. It was a last ditch effort by the gubmint in preparation for the olympics in Hotlanta. Then, one day sometime in the 90’s, I noticed all the metric signs were gone.
I’ve been dealing with both systems since I owned a VW Beetle from 1979-2014. Enough practice and the equivalent “close enough” sizes get burned into memory, and serve well enough for things that don’t require much torque. In 1984, Ford was already using a blend of SAE and Metric hardware on their lineup. Pretty sure GM was doing the same, but I have no idea what Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge was doing. Anything from Chrysler in the 80’s was best avoided, so I did. AMC put a few metric hardware bits on Jeeps as early as 1974. I still remember my stepdad howling about his “Japanese Jeep”. That man HATED anything metric and for good reason. Metric tools were a lot less common and more expensive back then. Thus the resistance to the changes. Never mind the fact that far fewer adults back then could multiply by 1.6 to convert MPH to KPH. I have traveled to Great Britain, Mexico, New Zealand, and many times to Australia and I have zero problems switching back and forth between the two standards. Pisses off the kids and the missus when I do the conversion without my phone.
Like someone else said, all my high school teachers were saying (before 1976,that is) metric is coming, metric is coming. Well, it sorta did in the 80’s when federally funded highway markers were added for the metric system. It was a last ditch effort by the gubmint in preparation for the olympics in Hotlanta. Then, one day sometime in the 90’s, I noticed all the metric signs were gone.
I’ve been dealing with both systems since I owned a VW Beetle from 1979-2014. Enough practice and the equivalent “close enough” sizes get burned into memory, and serve well enough for things that don’t require much torque. In 1984, Ford was already using a blend of SAE and Metric hardware on their lineup. Pretty sure GM was doing the same, but I have no idea what Chrysler/Plymouth/Dodge was doing. Anything from Chrysler in the 80’s was best avoided, so I did. AMC put a few metric hardware bits on Jeeps as early as 1974. I still remember my stepdad howling about his “Japanese Jeep”. That man HATED anything metric and for good reason. Metric tools were a lot less common and more expensive back then. Thus the resistance to the changes. Never mind the fact that far fewer adults back then could multiply by 1.6 to convert MPH to KPH. I have traveled to Great Britain, Mexico, New Zealand, and many times to Australia and I have zero problems switching back and forth between the two standards. Pisses off the kids and the missus when I do the conversion without my phone.
chim
Elite Member
On the 95 Wrangler I had, it appeared the engineers wanted everyone to have representation. It had metric, US, internal Torx and external Torx. Thought I'd seen it all. Then discovered I needed a 5-sided "allen" wrench to remove the brake sensor on the Trailblazer.
tjandrews
Silver Member
That's if you are in a spot where you can use a socket. For open end wrenches, 13 is a little big for 1/2, and 1/2 is often not quite big enough to work with a 13mm nut - unless it's worn enough that it's a bit too big to be a 1/2 any longer.
I've taken the corners off of far too many tight nuts trying to loosen them because I couldn't find the correct wrench in my toolbox when in a hurry, or when the correct wrench was in the garage instead of with me out in the field.
I hardly ever use any of my Standard tools anymore. Almost everything on cars, truck and tractor is metric. Can’t even imagine having to go back now.
But all my construction is in Standard. And can’t imagine using metric there.
But all my construction is in Standard. And can’t imagine using metric there.
From what I can find, English speaking metric countries still use inch/foot measurements for construction. The size of a 2x4 varies some, but they generally use 16- and 24-inch on-center layouts. There are strange exceptions. For example, standard Canadian asphalt shingles are about 1 meter long by 1/3 meter wide. Standard US asphalt shingles are 36 inches long by 12 inches wide.