[KevinW]

Just back from holiday many thanks for your replies. I got a brass 1/2" NPT adaptor fitting for my mechanical gauges - i ran this in and gave it a few hard turns, and now one of the fittings sits much better, the other hole needs attention. i also took a look at the htread on one of the hose fittings - looks messed up, so i'll get a new fitting and see if i can find a 1/2"NPT taper thread from somewhere - not very common in the UK!). thanks all.