Technical Question

[LowGear]

I've been noticing that some of you install bolts with the nut on the top and some with the nut on the bottom.  I'm attracted towards the nuts down as the bolt can stay in place even if the nut falls off.  The rattling often catches my attention and an easy fix is on the way.  Besides lock tight or finger nail polish is there any "better" method of installing bolts?

Casey

[Thob]

A few things come to mind - nylock nuts (nylon locknut), safety wire, replace the bolts with rivets, weld it, etc.  I guess it depends on where and how much it vibrates and how often you need to take it back apart and whether it affects balance (connecting rod bolts).

[Horsepoor]

I used 1/2 inch HomeDepo cheap bolts with mylock nut with excellent results. I read someplace that the cheap bolts function better than a high quality (.e. grade or high strength bolt which woul be stronger than the cheap India cast iron flange it is bolted too. Near had one rattle or shake free, nor break - yet.

[mbryner]

Hi Casey, I also use nylock's on everything that can vibrate and they never come loose.   Of course, w/ nylock's there aren't as many metal threads per nut so it wouldn't be as strong.   Depends on the application.   It seems perfectly reasonable to put the bolt through from top.

[sailawayrb]

Exactly what bolts and what nuts are we discussing?  If it's the ones used on frame to mount engine and gen head, I weld the bolt heads to underframe and then use lock washers and nuts on top.

Bob B.

[LowGear]

Wow Bob B.

You make me feel like such an under-achiever.  Learning there's a better way is one of the things I like about this site.

*****

I use the nylon nuts a lot too.  Dave, down at Fasenol (SP?) told me not to put so much faith into stainless nuts and bolts.  I appreciated his warning about not being as strong as good steel but I'm so *@#(#$(%&@((($&*@#&&$$*$((-ing tired of rust its hard to turn my back on the SS solution.

Casey

[mike90045]

I went 1 size over steel, when I ordered the SS all-thread for my anchors.  I hope they will do the job.

[luv2weld]

One thing to consider with nyloc's is the temperature. I would not use
them on the exhaust flange.

Ralph