Huck-Spin Fasteners

[farmmech86]

So my father drove his work truck, a 2010 Freightliner Columbia, home today. I stopped by and we were checking out the fasteners on the frame. They are round-head locknuts of some kind. I had never seen anything like em, so I did a little looking around the internet. Heres what I found:

http://www.alcoa.com/fastening_systems/commercial/en/never/Default.asp

http://www.alcoa.com/fastening_systems/commercial/en/Huck-Spin.pdf

Its called the Huck-Spin Fastening System, made by Alcoa Fastening Systems. This freightliner used the round flanged head locknuts. Any diesel/heavy Equipment mechanics out there run into these things? You guys like em?

They look like a major PIA to me - you have to cut em out with a torch, or use their special tool, which costs like $800 Yeah yeah, I am sure that they are strong and sturdy; easy to install to boot. But geez, these exotic fasteners are killing us shade-tree guys.

 

[plinker]

They are stronger than a regular bolt. The place where I work has borrowed the tool (hydo powered impact style gun) to replace several on a truck a couple of times. They are really more of a rivet, IMO. I have seen them replaced with regular grade 8 bolts temporarily.

For removal they usually get torched off around here.

They arent really new either, last spring some trucks got scrapped ('70's various makes) and they had huck bolts.

Macks (and I'm sure most every other make) have alot of these holding various supports and braces together on the frame.



*
I have no real experiance with these other than what I've seen and have been told by the co-workers that have dealt with them.

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

They have been used for a while on heavy trucks and busses. when new they look like bolts with the threads stripped out.

As far as removal goes it is easy. the "nut" part of the fastener melts away faster than the "bolt" part of it so you just melt it in two and it falls off, then you punch the bolt out with a hammer

 

[cglasgow]

Not a heavy truck tech here -- how often do you guy need to take apart frames?

 

[Builder302]

Depending on the type removal is not difficult. Some can be "unbolted' like a nut and bolt, some do need to be cut apart. All can be replaced with a grade 8 after the fact if needed. They are used because the produce more consistent tightening that a regular nut and bolt.

 

[seagravedriver]

Sutphen ladder trucks and ladder towers use them. I feel better with them than I do welds.
http://www.sutphen.com/page.asp_Q_navigationid_E_5

 

[Daddy_Rabbit]

NASA uses them and have done so since way back during the Apollo program.

 

[blue dog]

you learn something everyday. Is this a one time use bolt ?

 

[plinker]

Not a heavy truck tech here -- how often do you guy need to take apart frames?

Not often, generally only if somthing is damaged or rusted out. Or when adding a side box mount/ tank bracket or similar items.

Is this a one time use bolt ?

Yes, AFAIK.

 

[DetroitDIESEL444]

Not a heavy truck tech here -- how often do you guy need to take apart frames?

The only time i have ever had to remove them was to replace leaf spring hangers and brackets.

I have never heard of a shop replacing a huck spin fastener with a huck spin fastener. they are one time use and i have always replaced them with grade 8 fine thread bolts with top lock nuts, the huck spin fastener says grade 8 just like a bolt does so they are the same

 

[Builder302]

Yes one time use only

 

[tatra]

used extensively in the rail industry on rolling stock and locos...........

 

[4x4gearhead]

Are they much different than you would find in an automotive app? Like for instance the spring hangers on all of my ford full sizes had those what would seem to be 1/2" rivet fasteners, which I too always just replaced with grade 8 bolts.

 

[Builder302]

Are they much different than you would find in an automotive app? Like for instance the spring hangers on all of my ford full sizes had those what would seem to be 1/2" rivet fasteners, which I too always just replaced with grade 8 bolts.

I am familiar with the huck bolts in heavy truck use, but I am not very familiar with automotive/light truck rivets. Just visually comparing these to the rivets in my Ford f-250, they seem quite different in design, but seem similiar in application. I have installed lift kits and done other suspension work on light trucks and like you, used grade 8 hardware when replacing them.

 

[diesel research]

Just noticed them friday on a freightliner. Yes much different than light truck rivet.

Looks kind of like a carriage bolt or stove bolt, the round headed kind used on old truck chrome bumpers, with a round threaded bung "nut" on the other side. Not like a rivet. Didn't see any tool marks where the tool would engage the fastener.

Also saw round bolt heads with 3 dimples. Some type of tamperproof stuff that I am not familiar with. Just cut them off.

 

[glue4u]

There is a difference between HUCK BOLTS and HUCK SPIN BOLTS.
HUCK SPIN is the newer stuff. The $800 is the mandrel piece that actually goes in the tool. If you have the tool to install these, which requires electric/hydralic power source, you would have a serious investment and obviously the need to be installing quite a few. And, if you are installing these for a living, you would be an idiot not to have the remover mandrel or nose piece. The whole reason for using these fasteners on big trucks is because they don't back off or loosen in high vibration conditions. If you are working on big trucks and don't have this tool, don't use grade 8, use grade 9 frame bolts with all steel grade 9 lock nuts and threadlocker or you'll eventually be sorry.