Disguarding nuts after one use

Bill Goddard

Bill Goddard

Well-known member
I have read lately in the model A literature that we should be disguarding nuts after use= always use new nuts. I have restored aircraft engines and airframes over the years and we never were told to throw away nuts after one use (except nylon selflocking nuts). If you can reuse aircraft nuts AND bolts why not those on a model A? Where does this notion come from? Bill G
 
Yes it's true that they should be disposed of, but only if they are the original hardware. Send them all to me and I'll make sure they are taken care of. :)
 
I've been reuseing Model A nuts & bolts for 40 years and never had one fail. I hope I didn't speak too soon and the nut & bolt god didn't hear me.
I think I'll knock on wood and cross my fingers.
 
No send them to me!!!

The original nuts and bolts on the A are pretty special. Some of the nuts I ran across were not touchable with a file. Try to make a mark on original rear spring U-bolt nuts!! I only had a ones that had light rust pitting on the outside so I used them. Function ahead of beauty for my car.

Even the more plain bolts and nuts seem to loose too much metal when you try to chase them with common taps. This indicates they are likely a tighter thread fit then the new bolts you will get. I only run a tap or die on them now when there are issues I can not clean up otherwise.

When inspecting you need to look for galling and signs the bolts have been over tightened.
 
Reminds me of when I was in the Army. We didn't reuse any hardware on the old Hueys. Of course, the Government can afford it with money from US.
 
I bought a nut splitter to get a bunged up nut off and it broke before the nut even was marred by it. Ford used good steel
 
The only thing I use new are the lockwashers.

However trying to find the correct thickness of lockwashers per usage is a tough one.

As far as using the same nuts over and over, I use them all the time, can't get around it.

Pluck
 
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My wife wishes that I would throw away some of the nuts and bolts that I have lying around the house.. It's soooo hard to part with things that are Model A related. You never know when you might need them. If not for this project, then the next. Every one knows that there will always be a next project just around the corner. I love you Hun!!!!!
 
I wonder if the real concern is that you cannot tell what the last "mechanic" did to the nuts? This would include things like overtorquing as well as buying cheap nuts in the first place.
Charlie Stephens
 
Did you ever notice, that when disassembling old FORD parts, that the original nuts and bolts will come apart. The trouble, usually comes from nuts and bolts, that have been replaced. I keep all old FORD nuts.
I have heard to not re-use lock-washers. That is questionable nowdays. Most car companies don't even use lock-washers, at all, anymore. The younger mechanics say that they are useless in most applications. ??????
MIKE :)
 
:)We had a street rodder locally that made the same claim. he was an absolute ace machinist and did spectacular work. Frankly I think he was a product of his own imagination. I'm with the consensus. re-use unless stretched or galled. I'm with Pluck too on replacing lock washers. Well that's all the nuts and bolts I gotta say. LOL
 
When I was working as a mechanic a nut & bolt salesman brought a device that used a torque wrench and a high pressure gauge that proved the nut should be replaced each time. I have never taken that advice, I even re-use the rod nuts on my race engines and have never had a failure.
 
I read the same thing somewhere recently, but can't remember where it was. It showed how much holding power the bolt or nut loses every time it is tightened. I just laughed....I will continue using my original hardware as well!
 
Sixteen replies and no one has even suggested an off-color remark about the title. Everyone stayed on topic. I am shocked! This truly shows the difference between the FordBarn and the HAMB.

FWIW, I have always re-used nuts unless there is obvious damage or the threads are stripped. I'll save the bolts for non-critical applications and to help with cluttering up my workspace.
 
I always install the used nuts in their original orientation, provided they are in good enough condition for re-use. To install them "upside-down" to the original position causes the internal threads to be stressed in the opposite direction thus diminishing the fastener's holding capability.
Also, if they won't pull up to specified torque, discard them.
 
Is there anyone out there that would put money on a nut/bolt made in CHINA vs a nut/bolt Henry Ford put in a car 100 years ago? I think not.
 
Roadster62 said:
Is there anyone out there that would put money on a nut/bolt made in CHINA vs a nut/bolt Henry Ford put in a car 100 years ago? I think not.
Click to expand...

I'll take that bet. The problem is not that the Chinese can't make a quality product but that the Americans are willing to accept junk if the price is right. Every time we get a low quality product from China or anywhere it is our responsibility to return it to where we bought it and demand a refund. If the toys from WalMart fall apart return them and stop buying them. Make sure the company understands why. The American businessman sends work off to China with inadequate drawings, inspection, and acceptance requirements and then gets back a product at a cheap price that is junk. The ball is in our court. China has a system of certifying high quality manufactures but guess what, American businessmen ignore this since these companies charge more. China has a space program and I am sure any bolt manufactured for use in a space program would be strong enough to use on an old Ford.

Charlie Stephens
 
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