What's new
CK5
Register an account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members.

7/8-18 tap- ?

big dan

big dan

1/2 ton status
Joined
Aug 1, 2005
Posts
2,745
Reaction score
138
Location
Arkansas
Im looking for a 7/8-18 tap so I can build my tie rod and cant seem to find one locally. I checked the tech article on the home page and looked at mcmaster carr but dont really want to pay $60 for a tool that I may never use again.

Ive been searching and found some for $26 but they offer a plug tap and a taper tap.

http://www.toolguys.com/search/node/7/8-18+tap

my question is what is the difference? and which one will I need?
 
Last edited:
Either of those should be good for what you want. Just make sure that you tap more threads than you think you need. This is to compinsate for the first tew that are not the correct size. Also make sure that you use some sort of cutting fluid for this operation, really any synthetic motor oil will be better than no fluid at all.
 
Try amazon. I found taps on there for cheap. And you could buy them individually. Everywhere else wanted to sell an assortment.
 
The plug tap can bottom out in a blind hole, cutting threads the whole way down... the taper tap can't cut full depth threads all the way to the bottom since the tip of it is tapered...

For your application it doesn't matter... sometimes the taper taps are easier to start so you might as well go that route.

Surely you have some sort of industrial supply shop in your city, that'd be the best bet at getting nice taps locally.
 
I can buy them where I work for $9 each. only problem is that we have to order it direct from the vender and I would be required to purchase $75 worth before I could order them. I dont think $26 is too bad.

good explanation Avery, made perfect sense.

and if I cant cut enough threads in a 4ft tube to attach a tie rod end then I prolly shouldnt be trying to build one so Im sure a taper tap will work fine. thanks for the info guys.

no industrial supply shops here. we have a good hardware store that has been trying to get me one for a couple weeks now but no luck. the owner said he should find out if he can get one by the end of this week, if not Ill order one from that website
 
are you not going to do 1 end RH thread & other end LH thread? that way its length is adjustable w/o removing 1 of the tre's from the arm. if both ends are RH thread,..to adjust its length,..you'll have to pop 1 end or the other tre out of the arm and screw the tre in or out, then put it back together, if its not right, you'll have to pop the tre back out and screw it in or out, put it back together,..check it...if still not right...you will have to take the tre back out, until you have it correct length.

if you do 1 end RH thread & other end LH thread, you can leave tre's in the arms, and adjusting the length is so much simpler, just loosen jamb nuts and turn the rod 1 way to shorten & turn it the other way to make it longer, once its right, retighten the jamb nuts, just wondering if you had givin that any thought.
 
While I do agree that it would be easier if you cut rh threads on one side of the rod. Where is he going to find a tap to cut rh threads. If he could its going to cost a ton.
 
rh thread is normal threads...Lh thread tap would be the hard 1 to score, i'm lucky i have rh & lh taps from 1/2''-1'', i used to work at a machine shop that made competition engineering's 4 link rods, and had the owner buy me that set, and they're high speed taps(you can cut the threads w/drill or lathe) & high quality...the set was like $380 for 1/2-9/16-5/8-3/4-7/8-1'' 1 each-right and left hand
 
Last edited:
If you don't plan on making more then one tierod then weld in ends are the easiest route. $20 and your set for your TRE's.

If you just want the tap to have it a RH tap is the only one that is affordable. Most LH taps for that thread are very expensive. It is not that hard to adjust a tierod with 2 RH thread TRE's. My hole crossover setup uses RH TRE's of the same part number so I only have to carry 1 spare TRE that will work in all 4 positions of my crossover steering.

Having 2 RH ends does suck a little but how often do you or should you need to be adjusting your tierod's length? Once should be about all.

Harley
 
what I have is a tie rod off of an 83 that is just a threaded tube. I plan to cut off the end that is rh thread and re-thread the tube after cutting it to the correct length.

If I had just a tube that needed to be threaded on both ends I would buy the weld in ends but my plan was to use a spare tie rod I have to build a drag link, I just expected the tap to be a little cheaper.
 
blazin_blazer said:
rh thread is normal threads...Lh thread tap would be the hard 1 to score, i'm lucky i have rh & lh taps from 1/2''-1'', i used to work at a machine shop that made competition engineering's 4 link rods, and had the owner buy me that set, and they're high speed taps(you can cut the threads w/drill or lathe) & high quality...the set was like $380 for 1/2-9/16-5/8-3/4-7/8-1'' 1 each-right and left hand
Click to expand...

I gotta check my work next time. I was just going through my posts and saw that and had to haze myself.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Posts

Top Bottom