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Loose Nuts

To: spridgets-mod@autox.team.net, spridgets@autox.team.net
Subject: Loose Nuts
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 13:29:29 -0800
Listers -

The topic of the proper use of fasteners comes up again and again (some of 
us never learn.)  Nonetheless, a tale of woe: (if it had gone on much 
longer, it would have been a tale of whoa.)

I'm pulling the engine/trans to replace the gearbox and repair/refurbish 
the clutch after all the clutch linkage fell into the bell housing 
(??)  When disconnecting the flange at the rear u-joint, I found one (1) 
missing fastener, one (1) loose bolt with standard nut and lock washer and 
2 (2) loose bolts with ESNAs (Elastic Stop Nut Assembly, often mislabeled 
'ny-lock') AND split lock washers.  The 'clunk' when the flange halves 
shifted at start-up must have been masked by the howl of first gear.

I learned the hard way (don't ask) a long time ago that split lock washers 
will push an ESNA up by deforming the threads until the spring force is 
relieved.  The result if using this combination is ALWAYS a loose 
fastener.  If one more bolt had fallen off, the torque at start-up would 
have twisted the others off, dropping the tail piece on the ground.  It 
could also have happened during a down shift into a hard corner.  Imagine 
the effect!  Just like shifting into neutral plus the accompaniment of the 
drive shaft flailing around inside the tunnel and probable clipping off all 
those annoying tubes by the rear axle like the brake hoses.

The DPO's DPM (DPO was SO non-mechanical that he spent a night in jail 'cuz 
he couldn't find the VIN to show a trooper that the car was not stolen) 
must have thought that both parts provided locking, so both would be twice 
as good as either alone.

Anyway, all's well that ends with most of my hide in the original location.

cheers,

Clay L.
'67 Sprite

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