When working on machinery as old as your grandfather and your a grandfather ! Most the nuts and bolt were hand made . In sizes we don't see today , you need to make your own when there not all there .
3/8"unc nuts but take 11/16" wench . Missing one full nut and on locking nut . thinks I am nut for making my own when there are all kinds "that will fit" in the nut drawer . But there not the right wrench size . Apparently, I am a "fussy old fart" .
I used to hate that, working on old equipment - especially when you'd run into new fasteners that were a hair smaller than the old ones - zipping a bunch of bolts off with M19 bolt heads... and then somebody swapped in a few new ones with M18 heads...
Or having metric fasteners on the body of a machine and SAE ones on the engine...
'Nuthin like a grumpy old mechanic
'68 Case 195, '84 Case 446, '88 Ingersoll 222 - and 1965 Case 530ck (fullsize backhoe)
With as much old stuff that has come through here over the years I’ve definitely experienced the mismatched hardware and wrench size thing. Hats off to you for going the extra mile and literally “making” it all match. Very impressive.
However, I also see the point makes! If I’m being honest I can’t say I wouldn’t go to the bolt bin and find something that fits.
I suppose that’s the real difference between someone that can keep things going, and someone that actually restores equipment and makes it like new again.
I find equipment with mismatched bolts and nuts all the time. I just put it back together and get the job moving. I never was a purist as you all can tell. Harry
Yep, mixed hardware is frustrating... That leaves me with a couple options... In general, I'm not a machinist. I would never be able to knock off custom hex nuts, unless it was a very specific need, and I took the time to CNC them at work. Odds are, I've got whatever it is in one of the boxes of mixed, misc hardware. I just need to invest the time to find it. Or most commonly at this point is I just replace it all. I try hard not to do that to something that's truely vintage, but mass produced things like lawn equipment I really don't much care. As long as it is the correct fastener, I don't stress that it might be hex instead of square.
Just dealt with it last weekend. Had to replace the motor on my 1948 Westinghouse air compressor. GE motor of similar age finally gave out, and was of a frame size, and shaft that no longer exhists. The motor shop quoted me an astronomical price to repair it, and explained why, and what was involved. New replacement industrial quality motor was half the starting point of the old GE. Well naturally the old one went in the scrap pile, but that left me with a motor that didn't fit the mount. Bought a slab of steel, and drilled to match the mount, and drilled/tapped to match the new motor. The original mounting bolts were no longer long enough, but no worries, they're 3/8 carriage bolts, and I have endless quantities of them...
Wrong. The'y actually 1/2" carriage bolt heads then necked down to the 3/8" thread. WTF... So now, they're 3/8 hex, and don't self lock in the slots... Irritating, but just as functional. The original bolts got bagged, and labeled. They'll be going on to an identical compressor that is missing it's motor. Next adapter plate I make will be relieved to use the OEM bolts. Second compressor is destined to ride the back of the big generator's trailer for use away from the barn (hopefully this summer).
Most the nuts and bolt were hand made . In sizes we don't see today , you need to make your own when there not all there . 
thinks I am nut for making my own when there are all kinds "that will fit" in the nut drawer . But there not the right wrench size . Apparently, I am a "fussy old fart" . 
Harry