Replacing all hardware bolts/screws for my deck of C22
- Thread starter Erbardy
- Start date
For the record - split lock washers DO NOT DO ANYTHING. Why? Because, when you tighten a bolted connection beyond the point where you compress the washer (which happens early in any properly torqued bolted connection), it becomes just another flat washer. The "sharp" edges of a split lock can only engage (if at all) when the connection is almost completely loose. But that's way too late to do any good. Stop using lock washers for anything.
Be careful using stainless Nylock nuts as the galling factor increases. The fresh nylon will cause the nut to twist a minute amount and create friction in the threads. I've had to cut several fasteners apart. I use loctite because it helps lubricate the threads. Here is a little article about galling. Stainless Steel Galling and Its Causes | RG Group
LeeanRick.....ditto. Thanks for adding that clarification to this thread. I discovered all but one radar mast support fasteners on my Hunter 386 fasteners had vibrated loose (after splashing the boat post 3 years on the hard) and fell onto the deck because they were not fastened with nylock nuts. Installed new bolts with nylock nits with loctite.
Too bad you can't just go online and get bronze hardware mailed to your door from McMaster-Carr, stuff never galls, but it's old school, can't be worth using, stainless is just tooooo perfect, long as you don't mind grinding it off, or using neverseize (and yes, lots of sarcasm, you CAN just buy bronze hardware, just shush...)