How do you attach the front nut on a carburettor?

I refurbished my carb (1600TP Solex PICT 34) yesterday but when I came to putting it back I just could not replace the 13mm nut that goes at the front (the rear one is easy). The front one I can only reach with one finger and I can't get it started on the thread. I spent an hour trying, lost 2 nuts and then ran out of light. What is the secret? Any tips for putting on a nut in tight spaces?

 

I have a 13mm one of these...

http://thumbs2.ebaystatic.com/d/l225/m/mOAro-jbRpYzZ6h1Z2DGqFQ.jpg

Very useful!

 

Here you go. I actually ground some of the material around the ring away to make it even easier. Mine came from Kennedy tools many, many, many moons ago!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yato-prof...Hand_Tools_Equipment&var=&hash=item2a2bf02c3c

 

KarlB Thanks for your advice - I will get myself one. Just one question - how do you get the nut to stay in the tool while you are getting it onto the thread at the beginning? Doesn't it fall off?

 

No, you can start it off with your fingers onto the threads (and I don't have especially small hands!)

Have you tightened the other nut? Undo that one and it'll give you some more movement to get the other one started (I'd call that the rear one though!).....the one by the fanhousing.

 

Thanks again Karl - I will try that. Never sure what is front on these - the one I find difficult is nearer the front of the bus so I call it the front one?

 

When I'm working in a tight spot like that, I use a piece of tape across the top of the wrench opening to stick the nut to. reach in give the nut and wrench a turn, to start, then pull up on the wrench to let the tape loose and continue to tighten! That may work. Or try balancing the nut on top of the stud and reach a finger in from both sides of the carb. and try to tighten.
The same works good when putting spark plugs in, tape, (with sticky side out) inside the socket to keep the plug in place until it starts in the threads.

 

Slim fingers and a banana spanner. Easy!

 

Suggest pic as some may not be familiar with banana spanners

 

Half moon is another name for them!!

 

Got a double cranked spanner somewhere too.

 

Voila!

 

That's completely different to a half moon

 

But it is banana-shaped

 

I just take off the distributor cap first, then there's enough room for a standard "stubby" 13mm spanner

 

Bazinga !

 

Are you Sheldon posting under a false name ?

 

Not a cranked spanner... definitely not banana shaped...

 

As above, off with the dizzy cap and even the cut-off solenoid for the fingers bit.

 

Put a big blob of grease on the nut
Then reach round and posistion the nut on the end of the stud
The grease will hold the nut in place

As others have said remove the dizzy cap to gain more room

Once you have tickled it onto the first turn of the thread the hard parts over

I find a rag spread out around the back of the carb saves having to fish out dropped nuts from the tinware etc
I dont have any bent spanners and still manage to fasten it up tight
Then again im used to playing with fastenings with just feel alone