I think I may understand what you mean. Please correct me if I do not explain things clearly.
I can see where the harmonic balancer illustration could be a little confusing--but it is actually an excellent example of my point. Let me explain.
The harmonic balancer in the above pictures is of an Ford FE. The Ford FE has a clockwise rotation (as you look at the harmonic balancer from the front of the engine). Therefore, as the pistons push down on the crank to rotate the crank, the crank turns clockwise. The harmonic balancer is designed such that it RESISTS this clockwise motion--or dampens the clockwise motion of the crank. It does this by means of a rubber inertia ring (or a viscous fluid depending upon the style of dampener) that is between the hub of the dampener and the heavy outer ring of the dampener. The outer ring of the dampener can't instantaneously "catch up" with the hub/crank with each of the piston pulses because there is a "slip" motion from the rubber or the viscous fluid between the inner hub and the outer ring. The outer ring is heavy and has quite a bit of inertia so it doesn't "want" to catch up with the crank/hub--in other words, it lags behind. That is how it dampens the vibration in the engine. As it lags behind, it is effectively running counter-clockwise, or "unscrewing" the harmonic balancer bolt.
As you can see from the above the direction of the thread (right-hand threads on a Ford FE harmonic balancer bolt) didn't "work" like it was supposed to. In other words, once you loose the preload on the harmonic balancer bolt, hub wing nut, spinner, or whatever other bolt you have, you are doomed to failure.
Another way to think about it (without threads at all) is to think of a bearing that is pressed onto a shaft. There is considerable torque applied to the bearing (there is drag on the bearing) yet the bearing doesn't spin (hopefully). Why? Because it is "clamped" to the shaft by the interference fit of the race to the shaft. When you tighten a bolt, you create the same interference fit with the threads as the press fit does on a shaft.
I hope this explains it.
David
