battenberg

Well-Known Member
I replaced my reversing light switch today on my 300's r380box, getting the bugger off was annoying as you're working blind by feel.

I got it off with a 20mm socket after loosing my temper with it and pulling the wires off.

When I got it in my hand, the flats on it were 3/4" which seemed a strange size to me, putting the new one in was not a problem as I have a 3/4" ring spanner.

an' before you ask, I didnt have the new one, when I took the old one off!

So...

....What other Odd Size Spanners or Stange tools are needed on the Disco and Where/What are they for??
 
Nothing odd about 3/4". Its the same as 19mm which is the standard AF size for a normal M12 bolt. 20mm is a bit of an unusual size.
As far as I know, most of the stuff on a Disco is what you'll find in a standard socket set. The oddballs are when you get to the big stuff. Wheel nuts are 27mm, viscous fan (if you haven't taken it off and junked it already) is a special 32mm spanner and the wheel bearing hub nuts I think are 52mm.
 
Nothing odd about 3/4". Its the same as 19mm which is the standard AF size for a normal M12 bolt. 20mm is a bit of an unusual size.
As far as I know, most of the stuff on a Disco is what you'll find in a standard socket set. The oddballs are when you get to the big stuff. Wheel nuts are 27mm, viscous fan (if you haven't taken it off and junked it already) is a special 32mm spanner and the wheel bearing hub nuts I think are 52mm.

Strange, I tried a 19mm but couldnt get it to fit, maybe 'cos i was working blind... who knows?

See as a bit of a tool collector, like most on here, I've got the Viscous spanner and a Hub box spanner and a socket specially for me nuts!
 
even though generally some af sizes are usable equivalant to a metric there is a slight difference ie i would use a 13mm in place of a 1/2af or vice versa. but 13mm is something like one or two thou over size against the 1/2af so your 13 gonna be slack on a true 1/2af nut and likewise the 1/2af spanner sometimes as i have found won't even fit on to the 13mm nut.
 
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good chance that some bits originally designed for series vehicles have found there way on to discos n all so could be a right mix of af and metric
 
Propshaft nuts/bolts 9/16th

It's not so much the sizes of stuff that annoys me but their placement. With just a little more thought, and real design input, the Disco could be 300% easier to work on.
 
Was sortin out me spanners yesterday and found that I've got a combination spanner that is 9/32".
Wonder what that was for and why I bought it?
 
Nah, already got one .. that's how I know the size ... ;)

Just that there are so many places where a little more thought could have made things much, much easier. Even 'normal' stuff, like the 300 Tdi airbox. Easy to change the filter, four clips, lift off, replace filter, jobs a good 'un. But the clips foul some wiring, a tube and the 'wedge' so whilst it's still reasonably easy it would have been so much easier just moving the clips a few mm. Or the oil filter, why not put it somewhere more easily get-at-able ... and the sedimentor, and so many other nuts and bolts that a few mm would have made such a difference to. I guess it's always been so, but to my mind good design means that normally, regulrly replaceable stuff should be **** easy to do and to get at, not a fight!

Maybe it's these quirks that are part of Landrovers that we love, but sometimes it feels like they deliberately tried to make it harder than it could be.
 
Thanks guys. I've got a local 'Andrew Page' and a few others close to where I live, so I'll nip in this afternoon. I guess I'll also be able to get a reasonably priced 'puller tool' to help me get the crankshaft pulley off me '95 M Reg Tdi 300 Disco ES manual (no aircon). I need to replace the timing belt as I don't have any service history since 78,000 miles in 2002 ! (138,000 on clock now). Will let ya's all know how I get on in wiv prices etc. in case n e one else needs similar stuff.
 
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