HELP! Changing Clutch Master Cylinder

[SandC994@domain.elided]

I am changing the clutch master cyl on my 1984 Spider Veloce.  I purchased a 
used master cyl from someone on the Digest a while back (what the heck it was 
only $10, in good shape and worth the "gamble").  Yesterday I started 
installing it on my car which up to now has been going very smoothly...it 
seems that the line will not thread back onto the unit for final connection 
before bleeding.  I have been driven crazy since something so simple will not 
work.  I am using a 11mm open/box combo and it feels like it "catches" before 
falling out.  I have not forced anything so not to ruin the threads.

I inspected the old unit and found nothing different except one potentially 
crucial item:  the cylinder I removed was imprinted "ATE" and the unit I am 
replacing it with is imprinted with "Bendix".  (I know a number of European 
marques used Bendix, Girling and ATE sometimes interchangeably, but...)  

MY QUESTION is this, everything else fits to the car, so would there be a 
different thread pattern on the Bendix unit BEING INSTALLED and the ATE unit 
that WAS on the car?  If there is no difference, are there any 
"tricks-of-the-trade" that can be used?  This is driving me nuts...I am ready 
to just buy a new unit and eat crow. (and more time wresting with a small 
space and parts all over again)


Chris Finks
AROO/AROC
Portland, OR  
1984 Alfa Romeo Spider Veloce
1996 Volvo 850 GST Turbo
(E-MAIL: SandC994@domain.elided ---and/or---cfinks@domain.elided)

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