robert weeks wrote:
I was wondering about all of the bolts and locking washers that are in
> less critical areas like the ones that secure the front and back plates to
> the block or the timing cover bolts and washers. Can I get away with run of
> the mill hardware store stuff for these applications?
When you say "run of the mill" make sure you do not include the Asian
mills.
There are several grades of lock washers, I am sure other more qualified
nut guys will be more specific.
The lock washers from Taiwan (Home Depot) are pure junk, don't bother
with them. Any hardware store that sells quality nuts and bolts will
have at least a grade 3 lockwasher, for a test, smack one with a hammer,
it it stays flat, don't use it. Good lock washers have to retain their
spring to "lock" the nut or bolt. If it stays flat, it has no spring.
Your old lock washers if still sprung, are perfectly suitable for reuse
in the non crittical areas as you stated. Remember, the engine vibrates
and that's what causes the loosening of nuts and bolts.
A drop of locktite doesn't hurt either.
--
Frank Clarici
Toms River, NJ
Bugeye Sprite
67 Sprite
59 A40
http://www.exit109.com/~spritenut/
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