Lockwashers revisited

[bobcowan]

[quote=DanEC;1379499]I don't use split washers without a flat washer under them to protect the component surface. QUOTE]

That doesn't work. The whole point of a locking washer is to lock the face of the fastener to the material underneath. You're locking the face of the fastener to the flat washer, and nothing is locking it to the material. Might as well leave the lock washer out.

[DanEC]

[quote=bobcowan;1381762]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I don't use split washers without a flat washer under them to protect the component surface. QUOTE]

That doesn't work. The whole point of a locking washer is to lock the face of the fastener to the material underneath. You're locking the face of the fastener to the flat washer, and nothing is locking it to the material. Might as well leave the lock washer out.

Bob, I basically said that in the rest of my post. " I would not be surprised to learn that a flat washer further increases the chances of loosening when there is a lot of vibration. I now use blue loctite more than I used to - but on any aluminum component I rely on anti-sieze and a lock washer and figure I will have to re-tighten them later."

And, you will find that a bunch of Detroit bolted connections used both a lock washer and a flat washer in many applications. Considering how they watched pennies cost on units of mass production, not getting rid of un-necessary flat washers seems odd if they didn't serve a purpose in some connections. But, it was probably a constant tug-of-war between the engineers and the cost accountants.

[G-Pete]

[quote=bobcowan;1381762]

Originally Posted by DanEC

I don't use split washers without a flat washer under them to protect the component surface. QUOTE]

That doesn't work. The whole point of a locking washer is to lock the face of the fastener to the material underneath. You're locking the face of the fastener to the flat washer, and nothing is locking it to the material. Might as well leave the lock washer out.

NO!

The washer underneath protects the surface and widen the holding point.

Lock washers have their place - especially with high stress and side load applications. All our Grill Guards (work) have lock washers where the bracket meets the upright. Here is experience speaking, we doing that now for 37 years - we have sold close to a million guards and they do not fall off like the competition ones.

Lock washers are used widely at railroad, cranes and heavy earth moving equipment. If you cant a use a fine thread bolt on press brakes (i.a. example), it is common to use a lock washer.

The auto industry have developed over the last 100 years their own specialty bolts, nuts and washers - and combos.
Most decisions are made based of cost - Dodge uses many fasteners on their vehicles without any coating. They actually rust in place while on the way to the dealership.
Ford created a whole can of worms with their Alu bodies, I'm watching that very closely...........but that is a different subject.

Happy wrenching!