[TR] nuts, bolts and lock washers

[Randall]

> I have always used a bolt with flat washer, and on the 
> other side a nut with lock washer. so I'm asking why not lock 
> washer the bolt?

Frank, I understand bolted joint design theory just well enough to know I
don't really understand it.  But the theory seems to be that it's primarily
the spring action of the lockwasher that helps keep the nut tight, rather
than the teeth digging in.  And they are only used on a certain class of
joints, which I think means ones where the bolt may lose tension under
vibration, etc.  Generally you don't find them on joints where the bolt is
torqued enough to stretch (since then the bolt supplies the spring action),
like head bolts, main bearing bolts, etc.

So, a second lock washer wouldn't necessarily hurt, it just won't help.

Randall