Author	[Modern View]
60 acre hillside 09-23-2012 15:48:33 67.142.170.25 Report to Moderator	I was taught , perhaps incorrectly, In power mechanics class that a spring lock washer is considered to to be considered to be a one time use device. With some doubt in mind of their effectiveness, I seldom use them. I hear that Henry Ford, being considered to be an eccentric, refused to use them. What is the opinion of true mechanics [Reply]   [No Email]
VernMI 09-24-2012 16:13:26 209.86.226.27 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   A fastener joint is all about the torque tension relationship. A given torque should produce a consistent tension in the fastener. The spring washer causes varying amounts of bearing surface friction when installing the fastener and thereby causes erratic tension in the fastener. The spring washer does prevent backing out of the fastener and consequent tension loss. So it is a trade off between improper tension and having a fastener back out and subsequent loss of tension. The winner is good flat mating surfaces, consistent friction characteristics, and appropriate tension in the joint. A spring washer does not provide those qualities. [Reply]  [No Email]
hillbillyjack 09-24-2012 16:12:09 69.168.144.139 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   Never use 'em, every one I find goes straight to the scrap pail. [Reply]  [No Email]
MattE 09-24-2012 09:56:19 98.103.14.114 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   had several engineering profs testify and prove that if the nut/bolt is properly torqued, they are nothing but a spacer. If you need something that will enure that the bolt stays in without using loc-tite look up nord-lock washers http://www.nordlock.com [Reply]  [No Email]
bill mart 09-24-2012 08:01:25 69.204.65.189 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   Henry Ford was also very frugal and would do anything to save a penny.(read his bio) That being said,here is a excerpt from Wiki. A split washer or a spring lock washer is a ring split at one point and bent into a helical shape. This causes the washer to exert a spring force between the fastener's head and the substrate. Applicable standards are ASME B18.21.1, DIN 127B, and United States Military Standard NASM 35338 (formerly MS 35338 and AN-935).[8] The use and effectiveness of spring lock washers has been in debate of late, with some publications advising against their use. Sources in reference are IS:3063,[9] and NASA Fastener Design Manual.[10] did not know about the debate,have always used them and except for extreme vibration situations where i would use a nylock nut I will continue using lock washers. Bill [Reply]  [No Email]
Allan In NE 09-24-2012 07:09:41 148.66.98.174 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   They work well on soft metals. Just about totally useless on the hard stuff tho. Allan [Reply]  [No Email]
Mark - IN. 09-23-2012 18:51:23 24.15.151.102 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   I tore one up today pretty good, 5/8". Not sure what happened there, but destroyed it. A loader on one of my Deeres had a piece of 2" angle iron a 1/4" thick tack welded across the upper edge of the bucket with hooks welded to it on each end. It had popped, pulled off, and was a real nice edge until it did that. I don't weld, so today I remounted it by drilling through it, the bucket, and a piece of 2" flatbar, 1/4" thick inside of the bucket to sandwich/clamp the bucket between the flatbar and the angle iron. I used five 5/8" bolts spread out evenly from one end to the other, and all went well, except one nut that just destroyed that lock washer. They were not hardened bolts, so I really didn't crank down on them all that hard, but never saw a lock washer fail so easily. Good luck. Mark [Reply]  [No Email]
Retired Farmer 09-24-2012 23:20:21 207.200.116.12 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to Mark - IN., 09-23-2012 18:51:23   That is what happens when parts are made in china. They fail frequently. [Reply]  [No Email]
Leroy 09-24-2012 06:40:01 69.88.205.38 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to Mark - IN., 09-23-2012 18:51:23   Last batch of 3/8" I bought out of a hundred bolts I probably had 40 fail by spreading open. [Reply]  [No Email]
cd1 09-23-2012 18:27:38 67.239.32.149 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   I've pretty much quit using them, they really aren't doing anything, I'd rather see just a flat washer so you still get proper torquing. OLD- if you look around there are different grades of Loctite. Some applications you just gotta have it. Instead of lock washers I also use lock nuts (preferably the crimped type) and flange nuts (which have serrated teeth to keep from loosening. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jon Hagen 09-23-2012 18:19:12 69.26.17.61 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   If the washer is not bent and the tips still sharp, reuse it. What I have read makes sense, a spring lock washer is of no value unless the parts being clamped are flexible enough to relax and allow the bolt or nut to get loose and unscrew. A good deal on hollow flexible parts, useless when bolting thick solid parts. [Reply]  [No Email]
Glenn F. 09-23-2012 17:29:58 166.181.3.100 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   Theoretically, yes, but if they spring up and bite the nut they're still good. [Reply]  [No Email]
Diydave 09-23-2012 17:55:32 96.244.157.12 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to Glenn F., 09-23-2012 17:29:58   I use nylon locknuts, mostly. I don't want nuthin springin up and bitin my nuts! [Reply]  [No Email]
rusted nuts 09-24-2012 01:22:58 139.55.249.136 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to Diydave, 09-23-2012 17:55:32   Yeah, Once you get them bite then they start to rust. btdt. [Reply]  [No Email]
JRSutton 09-23-2012 17:20:11 75.130.109.233 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   They should just be used once - just like proper torque limits should be followed. But most people ignore it. ... which is why when you take an old tractor apart you could fill a coffee can with all the broken lock washer bits and pieces. [Reply]  [No Email]
old 09-23-2012 16:19:35 209.86.226.11 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   I reuse them as long as they spring open when you take them off. If they go flat I use them but not as lock washer but as a washer in places you need to take up space. I hate to throw much away if I can figure out how to use it [Reply]  [No Email]
60 acre hillside 09-23-2012 16:44:47 67.142.170.25 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to old, 09-23-2012 16:19:35   I also hate waste but I have been afraid of the lock washers and I use Locktite in close places but if I have room i use double nuts, [Reply]  [No Email]
old 09-23-2012 17:30:32 209.86.226.34 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 16:44:47   I NEVER use locktite but I do at times use some silicone gasket maker on the treads of nuts and bolts to keep them from vibrating out. The nice thing about the silicone is it holds well but not so well as to make it hard to take them back loose if you need to [Reply]  [No Email]
Dean 09-23-2012 16:17:23 67.172.15.77 Report to Moderator	Re: Spring Lock Washers in reply to 60 acre hillside, 09-23-2012 15:48:33   Yes, indeed, a spring lock washer is designed for a single use but such practice is almost universally ignored. Dean [Reply]  [No Email]