Any one have EXPERIENCE with Nord Lock products?

[endover]

I have searched the forum and I see many responses about folks who have "opinions and speculation" about Nord Lock washers but does anyone have solid experience with them where vibration is concerned? Do they work as well and as long as the video claims on their website?

What I find odd is that if they are sooooo good, how come they're only (primarily) used in the European countries? I have large, moving, structural steel components that are being assembled undersea and will need to be unassembled and reassembled by divers on yearly intervals and Nord Locks seem perfect "IF" they really work. I need a fastener locking system, device, thingy that will keep the hardware secure. Loc-Tite (and those company's similar to Lock-Tite), etc. Does not make a seawater compatible goop.

I didn't get a big response in the Marine Forum so I'm trying over here.

Thanks!

 

[rb1957]

their website says you're used on Hummers ... maybe AMG would offer an opinion. none of their applications show a water (particularly underwater) picture; i'd have thought either they love to have your application, or else hate it ('cause they aren't set-up for the corrosion issues).

i wonder if they make only metric sizes ?

 

[endover]

We've got the corrosion part pretty well under control at this point. It's the "parts falling off" issue that we need to make sure doesn't happen. The sea is 2 miles deep there so whatever falls off....is gone forever.

We can't afford to be Nord Locks guinea-pig on this one. We only get one shot to make it right.

 

[MintJulep]

I have a high shock and vibration application where a part kept falling off (large population). The supplier believed that the problem was vibration induced loss of preload, and modified the population adding Nord-locks AND nylon strip bolts.

Parts are still falling off.

It is my position that the cause of the problem is not loss of preload, but fatigue induced by prying forces due to the eccentric joint loading.

So this neither condems nor endorses Nord-lock.

 

[FOETS]

Endover
Seen the Nord Loks used on new mobile equipment can't say if they are any better than just a correct torque setting.

Have you taken a look at cleveloc (oval lock) nuts for your application.
That is, only if you typically disassemble by cutting the nut off versus un-bolting. The locking is caused by the nut jamming and creating frictional thread interference when torqued. (hence damaging the threads)
We use these in high vibration applications such as in mine shafts. I believe the aircraft industries use these or similar also.

Cleveloc - trade name
A torque prevailing nut of all metal construction. The collar of the nut is elliptical in cross section and it is this that provides the flexible locking element. The nut is pre-lubricated to reduce the tightening torque. Cleveloc is a registered trade name of Forest Fasteners.

O-LOC® Oval Locknut - trade name
An all metal prevailing-torque locknut.
The locking feature is oval on two sides at the top of the nut,
creating frictional thread interference.

 

[dimjim]

Dimensions
Nord-Lock washers are available in:

Yellow zinc chromate: NL3 to NL42 (standard sizes) and NL45 to NL130 (upon request)
Stainless steel: NL3 to NL42 (standard sizes) and NL45 to NL80 (upon request)
Zinc flake coated: NL3 to NL42 (standard sizes)

Standard inch sizes from 1/4 to 1 inch.

Why not use Nord-Lock and some other measure to
ensure that they do not disengage like deforming
several threads beyond the nuts or whatever.

 

[Tunalover]

Why not use a self-locking nut with a flatwasher instead? If not the kind of nut with a plastic element, there are others that work using all metal as FOES indicated.

If a nut is out of the question then why not use a bolt with locking element? ND INDUSTRIES is one mfgr that can apply a number of different plastics and may there's one that's right for a marine application.



Tunalover

 

[Pressed]

Nord Locks work good on high speed forging presses with high pressure, vibration, oil and metal shavings. I haven't seen thier vid.

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[Screwman]

I have seen Nord Locks used on several applications. They are not a cure-all. You need to have an application where you can obtain and maintain a high clamp load in order for them to work well. If your joint is subject to collapse then they aren't good. Getting the sizes that you need have been a problem in the States with them in the past, but I don't know about the situation currently.
Are any of the preapplied thread adhesives saltwater compatible? I am thinking of the 3M adhesives that are preappled and dry onto the threads. They are made up of microballoons containing a two part adhsive that get broken when the mating threads crush them. I have an on land application where the lock is so strong that you break off the head of the bolt before they will let loose (that is the preferred failure mode).

 

[tothepoint]

Hardlock nuts are being used more and more in the railcar industry where siginifcant vibration and impact is encountered. They are a 2 piece nut which are drilled slightly eccentric to each other. They're a Japanese product, but there are sources for them here in the U.s.

 

[MintJulep]

The hardlock looks interesting. But it would seem to have some of the same disadvantages of a jam nut.