Anyone ever try this? Drilling the heads then running safety wire through to keep them in place? or maybe a stud with a castillated nut.... maybe I should try it.

 

If it would be cheaper than stage 8 locking header bolts then it is worth a try. However, after they go through a few heat cycles and back off they will exentually stop, so I just keep my eye on them for a week or so.

 

The purpose of safety wire is to keep fasteners from falling off under a constant vibration environment (like aircraft), not to keep them from loosening.

Either retighten your standard bolts until they stop loosening (mine have stayed tight w/o any retightening for over a year), or go with the Stage 8's.

 

Definately go with the Stage8's. Had them on my car for over 3 years and have never come loose.

 

Well, im going to put my two cents into this one. Seems how im in the AirForce and work on helicopters, id like to say that safety wire isnt only there to keep hardware or fasteners from falling off but that it does prevent them from loosening.I might actually think of trying it out. See, safety wiring is set up so that if one bolt does loosen, the other bolt is preventing it from going anywhere. Also, the bolt that loosens a little bit wont go too far because the other bolt is in turn tightening, and wont let the loose one turn but a mear .008" depending if the safetying was done right. So in turn five7kid was right. Good idea dans82bird.

OnFiRe705

 

Yeah, my father actually gave me the idea, he's an A&P (aircraft mechanic) so I figured I might share the idea. I don't know what the point of spending like 30 some odd dollars on some 'stage 8' fasteners when I have like 3 spools of stainless safety wire sitting here

 

as he said, safety wire is connected to 2 or more bolts, to keep each other from loosening, not allowing them to come undone.

 

I'm gonna have to disagree with you there. I'm also a helo mech in the AF, I've seen where .042" safetywire broke from an inboard damper attach bolt on an MH53J Pavelow after a couple of flights. Turns out the barrel nut was bad. It you're familiar with Pavelows that's a big *** bolt! That's the only time I've ever seen safety wire break though.

But then again, for a header application, safety wire will not break in these applications, you should be fine using it.

BTW, where are you a crew chief at? The AF helo world is small, I might even know you.

 

for some reason, i have never had a header bolt loosen on my. not sure why.

i use stainless cap screws on my headers. may want to give then a try, not sure if that has anything to do with it.

also, i think that the safetly wire thing may be a little unnecessary, i would go with the stage 8s.

-brian

 

iroczz3, im a crew chief at the 41st rqs at moody afb. I might have even gone to tech school with ya.

OnFiRe705

 

WTF??? Is this Bill?? Duh, I'm at Moody too! This is Rod...you know, the one with the other black IROC!! It's gotta be you, theres only 2 IROCS at the squadron....mine and yours. How's work??...LOL!!

 

Roddddddd.......whats goin on...lol. Long time no see.....anyways i think this topic is dead so.....e-mail me at work