[Healeys] Spring washers don't work !

[Bob Spidell]

The late Carroll Smith--well-known race chassis builder--hated 'em.  I'll generally try to avoid them--esp. on Al or 
other soft metal--and use proper torque and threadlocker instead (Locktite threadlocker now comes as a tape that is 
almost as convenient as it is expensive).   Note that in critical applications--head bolts/nuts, bearing caps, 
etc.--they're generally not used.

However, I used torque/threadlocker only on my rear shock mounting bolts and one of them worked loose.  Re-tightened 
with split washers and they've held for 15K miles or more.   On my front shocks I use grade 8 flatwashers, threadlocker 
and nominal torque.  Never had one work loose.

Bob


On 6/22/2011 2:52 AM, Derek Job wrote:
> All,
>
> Yesterday must have been a slow day as I found myself googling 'spring
> washers' in the interests of increasing my limited knowledge of all things
> mechanical.
>
> One of the results was the artilce below, with video tests, which concludes
> that under various circumstances,spring washers, as well as not preventing
> screw loosening, can actually make it worse.
>
> Interesting stuff. What is the view of the list experts out there?
>
> http://www.boltscience.com/pages/helicalspringwashers.htm
>
> cheers
>
> Derek
> _______________________________________________
>


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Bob Spidell           San Jose, CA            bspidell at comcast.net

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