Split lock washers do nothing?

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dibbons

dibbons

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Just did an internet search for split lock washers and found many comments that they do not prevent fasteners from coming loose. I don't know what to believe now.
 
I guess if stupid people use them, they don't work.

They work fine. Never had a problem other than if they were sprung and worn out.
 
Huh? They always work. They do 3 things: They prevent vibration loosening by acting as a tensioner, they act as a flat washer once torqued down, and they can bite into soft metal to prevent the nut from backing off as they dig in on the CCW rotation of a loosening nut. Thy should only be used where they are called out, usually vibration areas such as starters and accessory drive brackets, but never under a head bolt.
 
Split washers are not the best for resisting fasteners coming loose. They are not used in modern aviation where vibration has a great effect on parts coming loose. Lock wire, cotter pin, locktight, nyloc nut ect. is used when you need it guaranteed not to come loose. The shelving in your garage is one thing, something coming apart going through air or on the road is something else. Spindle nut, cotter pinned. Crank and rod bolts, locktight. Proper torqe will hold most things together with no worries. If worried, would not use split washer.
 
That's true, but we're not talkin about aviation.
 
Most everything has application and design limits. Things like operating temperature range, associated material hardness, and torque range. If they are from China, who knows.

They also wear out with reuse, or break and need to be changed out, bolts and nuts too.

Fastening is a science.
 
I have seen them come loose . When idiots put a flat washer under them. What sense does it make to lock a bolt to a flat washer that isn't locked to the surface.
 
In my experience there are two kinds of split washers. Ones that load the fastener and ones that load and dig into the material. There are situations where you don't want material being dug into. Most failures come from old, typically flattened with age or corroded washers and worn out threads on the bolt/threaded holes from multiple uses.
Improper torque both ways and contaminates on the threads can cause loosening too.

Like most thing, they work right when used right.
 
I used the split washers as a thrust spring against a flat washer on the springer fork setup on my mini chopper. As long as they are still sharp and not sprung they do the job within design limits.
 
Oldmanmopar said:
I have seen them come loose . When idiots put a flat washer under them. What sense does it make to lock a bolt to a flat washer that isn't locked to the surface.
Click to expand...

Yup. Went round and round with the engineers about this when I worked building trains.

Everything else has been said.
 
We got a drainage ditch overcrossing that if you hit it at 75, you can unload your suspension pretty good and hit the tail end like a relief ramp. Any slower and youll bottom out right at the end of the "table top", bounce and then hit the tail end in the air once again...youll spill your coffee for sure. Aviation is a different dog for sure. I would safety wire my header bolts if there was a way.
 
adriver said:
Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
(Unless it is on here)
Click to expand...

How about NASA? (Go to page 9)

[ame]http://snebulos.mit.edu/projects/reference/NASA-Generic/NASA-RP-1228.pdf[/ame]
 
What NASA says is true to some degree. The material the washer is used on need to be softer than the washer, hence why they are hardened. But that is aerospace and they have had a taxpayer budget.
 
Where a split washer was properly installed, removal will find where it bit into and created a tooth in the softer material. Another factor in failures today is the quality of materials the lock washers are made of. Good American made steel is kind of rare and very expensive today. What we find and can afford to buy is imported modern alloy mixes. As a plant maintenance mechanic the very first best example we found was in allen socket head set screws and allen hex keys/wrenches. Approx' 1980.
Just FYI , Today NASA ( us taxpayers ) pays about 11 USD for a single 3/16 allen wrench.
 
dibbons said:
Just did an internet search for split lock washers and found many comments that they do not prevent fasteners from coming loose. I don't know what to believe now.
Click to expand...

Well we all know if it is on the internet it is true. People are not allowed to lie on the internet.
 
I'd like to bad-mouth Nasa too,but there are just no strong enough words. I have come to think that almost every "higher" source, lies. I have had to unlearn almost everything I was ever taught. Well, at least geometry and algebra still work.
 
chryslerfat said:
Well we all know if it is on the internet it is true. People are not allowed to lie on the internet.
Click to expand...

So true. All you need to do is bend the little thingy.

And I was not bad mouthing NASA. Outside the space station is not a place to have a tool failure.
 
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