[TR] Lock nuts and lock washers

Michael Porter mdporter at dfn.com
Mon Aug 25 20:16:06 MDT 2008


john taylor wrote:
> Hey,
>  
>  I am certainly not saying do not use   any   locking device just that 
> lock washers do not work.
>  
>  Quote. The Standard Aircraft Handbook "lock washers may be used when 
> ever a selflocking nut is not available....they are NOT to be used as 
> fastenings to primary or secondary structures ...... 
>  
>  Carrol Smith...."the most popular locking device, the lock washer is 
> also the least effective.
> Neither the spring or wave washer do anything worth talking about 
> ....other than to provide a false
> sense of security".
>  
>  In my opinion if you really do not want  it  to fall off wire  it  on 
> or use an metal elastic nut or nylock nut(heat dependent) or locktite 
> by heat grade. 
>  

Ah, but, they do work.  They work just fine in normal application.  I'd 
want the best fasteners I can find in aircraft, or in a race car. But, 
in ordinary applications, they work just fine, and are cost-effective.  
Otherwise, they would be banned under FMVSS.  Your statement that they 
do not work neither matches engineering practice nor theory.  It is not 
true that they do not work, and by saying so, you introduce unnecessary 
worry among people who do not have the engineering skills to determine 
the truth of the statement. 


Cheers.

-- 


Michael Porter
Roswell, NM


Never let anyone drive you crazy when you know it's within walking distance....


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