Nord-Lock Wedge-Locking Washers

[kanai]

I came across this product which claims to be better than Loctite or other solutions for securing nuts in heavy vibration environments. I hadn't seen this discussed before. They claim:

"It is impossible for our products to loosen unintentionally due to the wedge created underneath the bolt head and nut."

Any thoughts?

https://www.nord-lock.com/nord-lock/products/washers/

 

[GForceJunky]

I've used these a few times. Cant say they've been used in any severe vibration situations but they've been used in places where blue loctite-coated bolts have come loose (the red loctite-coated bolts are always good) and have done fine. I'm pretty sure I found out about them on here but maybe not. They're not exactly cheap so I haven't adopted them for everyday use but found the concept interesting so tried them a few times before.

 

[Fred W B]

We use them in an industrial chemical environment, but as said if you need any quantity they are very expensive.

 

[4xdog]

ISTR a pretty good discussion here about them a few years ago.

 

[Black300zx]

Saw some test data on them years back. The theory to their function is sound, but can't say I've personally used them. IIRC, the once important consideration is the hardness of the bolt and material it's threaded into, with specific harness limits that need to be followed to make sure the radial serrations on the washers can bit in properly.

 

[RedneckWelder]

Thousand times better than the worthless split washer. M

I’ve seen them used on a mulcher head for an excavator the customer. Before them the customer could not get the bolts to stay tight no matter what he tried but they worked.

 

[bugnut]

Used in an industrial environment, lots of vibration and shock. Worked very well.

 

[kanai]

Thank you to all for your thoughts and experiences. I had not seen this before so appreciate the direct feedback.

 

[LXCam]

These things are the rockstars of the washer world. I’ve used for header to cat connections when nothing else worked.

 

[vanapplebomb]

They work really well on most fasteners. I did have problems with them on hardend steel though. The serrations didn’t bite into the hardend material. If the serrations can’t bite, the cam action won’t work.

Are they better than any spring washers? Yes.

Are they better than thread locker? Well...depends. Certainly better than medium strength lockers, but probably on par with high strength given properly prepped surfaces.

 

[bwringer]

In certain very specific situations, they're great. Spendy buggers.

There are some interesting Youtube viddys showing them in action on a vibration tester vs. other options.

They're not something the home gamer needs to keep around for use on every swingset or alternator bracket, but you could order up a few from McMaster if you're curious or have one of those situations to deal with.

https://www.mcmaster.com/nord-lock-washers

 

[lardy1]

I have a friend that uses them on his farm equipment. He says they're expensive. But so is losing parts that fall off.

 

[Locker537]

They are used on axles / CV joints on older Porsche 911 as well.

 

[lis2323]

I’ve had equipment that utilized them but never knew what they were called or how they worked until now. Thanks for the post. I learned something new[emoji41]


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[Steve_P]

This style LW is the only one that works; tests have proven this.

 

[Caboverbob]

We use them regularly on our large drilling rigs.

I also spent many years in the motorcycle community, where I've literally seen dozens of rear sprockets work their way free of the wheel that they're supposed to be attached too. These are the only thing that really works. I was always amazed at the "I just re-torqued those bolts, and they had red loctite on them" statements that guys would make.

Proper fastener prep includes cleaning, lubrication to ensure proper torque readings, and primer if you're going to use loctite. Nordlock washers are much easier to use imo, unless you're that guy that splits them into two separate washers, then you will get what you deserve...

 

[mbatarga]

They are used on axles / CV joints on older Porsche 911 as well.

^ +1

 

[AA/FC]

I've seen them a few times..... I hear they do the job they claim to do. That's about all I know. lol

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Never seen them before either. I prefer thread locker one it’s fun to use, two it’s known to work.


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[PureLeaf]

Not their intended use but they've found a following in certain types of airguns to lock the stock to the action due to the spring vibration those types of guns produce.

The downside of them is they're fairly thick, and per instructions require a metal surface to be up against meaning in that particular use case, they need a flat metal washer between the wood stock, and the nord loc.

 

[Jeepster04]

Ive used them a few times, so far so good.

 

[Bricol]

Use a load of them in all sizes in can making machine manufacture - work very well if used as designed. Placing a plain washer underneath them defeats the their action though. As will using one one on one end of a nut and bolt passing through something - need one under the nut and another under the bolt head.

They do require an extra bit of effort to undo as you have to overcome either the wedge effect, or make them skid against the mating surfaces - usually go with quite a crack!

 

[motoretro]

I investigated these a few months back for a specific application. Unfortunately I needed something for left handed threads.

 

[plinker]

The log cranes I've worked on, their buckets/grapples have a hose guard on it, with two socket screws and these Nordlocks. For this application they are fairly ineffective, but so is Loctite. The operators tend to bash wood into place on trailers or piles with the bucket and constantly break or loosen the hose guard bolts in the process.

I'd used used them in a couple other areas not memorable enough to say where, which means they worked I guess.

 

[RedneckWelder]

The log cranes I've worked on, their buckets/grapples have a hose guard on it, with two socket screws and these Nordlocks. For this application they are fairly ineffective, but so is Loctite. The operators tend to bash wood into place on trailers or piles with the bucket and constantly break or loosen the hose guard bolts in the process.

I'd used used them in a couple other areas not memorable enough to say where, which means they worked I guess.

When it comes to logging equipment the only thing approaching secure is heavy weldments and even then they usually find a way to tear it up.

 

[mepstein]

They are used on axles / CV joints on older Porsche 911 as well.

Used on most Porsche models for cv’s and also on some suspension components. They are a one use item. Cheap in quantities.

 

[mikegt4]

I used them on production line equipment, never had one come loose.

 

[GForceJunky]

I investigated these a few months back for a specific application. Unfortunately I needed something for left handed threads.

I'm really surprised they don't offer a version for lefthand threaded applications. Did you reach out to them to see if they have it available by special order?

 

[motoretro]

I'm really surprised they don't offer a version for lefthand threaded applications. Did you reach out to them to see if they have it available by special order?

Yes, I did contact them. They said it wasn't a production item. Since I only needed (1), I felt it would not be worth my time and expense to pursue a custom production run.

 

[Daveyclimber]

These are fantastic. I use 5/8 and 3/4 regularly. I get them at Zoro in boxes of 100 pairs. Cheapest place I have found them. They are very expensive to purchase 5 pairs at a time. I have only used them with socket cap screws, since that is what my forestry mulcher uses.

 

[Bogie1632]

They work great in the proper application but tend to be a bit pricey.

These were a "must have" for the CV axles on HMMWVs. Lots of vibration. Loctite wouldn't hold up and regular split lock washers would fail to keep the bolts tight (6 per CV to diff axle flange mount at each corner). One genius used JB Weld once...I got that one for a brake job some time later...that actually held up ok with the split washers but was a pain to clean up while still in the vehicle. Never had any come loose with the Nords. Other options at some point of varying failure you ended up with broken CVs, axle flange threaded holes wallowed out, and/or brake problems. Any I touched or came through my shop got a quick look. No Nords present it was corrected before it went back in service.

V/R
Bogie

 

[woody 73]

Good information thanks op for sharing it.