Saftey wires

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Tue Jul 06, 04 1:19 am

Whilst fitting my Willwood brake kit,the instructions keep refering to saftey wiring some of the bolts.The bolt head has 2 small holes in it for this purpose.Maybe its a common thing in the States but has any one over here used this method or do you just dig out the good old Loctite?Also what do you wire it to??The next bolt??So what happens if you have an un-even no of bolts??So many questions and hopefully so many answers!!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 06, 04 5:14 am

Locktite works for me.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Tue Jul 06, 04 7:49 am

Safety wire, or lockwire as we know it, is common in motorsport as it is less likely to fail than a liquid under severe conditions. You can buy lock wire in various thickness and there is a tool you can get to speed the job along, however with two bolts you can do it by hand.

Tighten the bolts to the correct torque then run a length of the wire through the bolts hole, turn both ends of the wire towards the second bolt, pull some tension on to it the twist it as tight as you can (like a tie wrap) until you you reach the second bolt, put one of the tails through the second bolt and run the other tail around it, then tension and twist it as per the first bolt for about 1/4 inch past the bolt, cut the tails at that point then fold the twisted bit after the second bolt back against it.

Done !

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Jul 06, 04 9:24 am

Rich, I bought some wire and the correct pliers to do my Wilwood brakes, I didn't like the idea of locktite when the bolt is going into aluminium, I could see problems with stripped threads when I needed to get it apart. You are welcome to borrow the pliers and wire if you want, and I could take some pictures to help, call me on 07941061813 if you like.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Tue Jul 06, 04 9:29 am

See here on how to do it...

http://www.whizwheels.com/Tips/safetywiring.html

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Tue Jul 06, 04 10:04 pm

Thanks lads,cant believe the times you lot are up in the morning,I`ve just gone to bed by then!!

Had a practice and its quite easy when you know where to run the wire.
Thanks for the link Blue that showed me the way,I think I will have no probs using normal pliers but need to know what type of supplier would stock the wire,and not give me blank stares if I ask for lock wire.

Only bit I`m not sure on is what happens on a 5 stud PCD when you are left with one bolt and no fixed place to wire it to??

Post by **TyreFryer** » Tue Jul 06, 04 10:10 pm

Richard, I've got a roll of stainless lockwire I used to use on my racing bike. If you just want a few foot I'll send you some in the post. You can get away with a pair of normal pliers to twist them up, I used to.

Email me your address.

Anyway, what are you doing fitting a set of Willwoods? Have you gone all hoity toity then, or won the lottery?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 06, 04 10:34 pm

RichDeb wrote:Had a practice and its quite easy when you know where to run the wire.
Only bit I`m not sure on is what happens on a 5 stud PCD when you are left with one bolt and no fixed place to wire it to??

You want to wire lock the combustion chambers on a JT8D (737 engine) absolute nightmare, both for access and the pure number of the little blighters that needed doing!
As for your question - lock 3 together, one strand of the wire going through the middle bolt, the other going around the outside (makeing sure its tight) then carry on to the 3rd bolt as normal.
Still got my Snap On wire locking pliers somewhere - think the missus uses them for pulling out rusty nails now

Rich · Post by **Rich** » Tue Jul 06, 04 10:49 pm

Thanks Iain,
Martin my address is in the post,thanks for the offer.
As for the Willwoods,they were light enough to put in my case,where as OE stuff would have made my baggage heavier than the plane its self

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Jul 07, 04 9:01 am

Just for reference, Demon Tweeks stock locking wire and you can also get it from any decent motorsport or murdercycle shops.