Case of the missing nut

[vamr]

There's a lesson there for you, vamr - check the bike over before every ride! A quick check on axle nuts, pins, tyres etc only costs a minute of your time, but could save you your life. Make a habit of it, and before long it will be instinctive. And don't forget to test your brakes before you get out of your driveway.

For sure, cheers for the advice. Picked up a few R-pins to keep the new nut in place.

[peasea]

As this bike hasn't seen the inside of the shop in my 'loving' care can't blame anyone but myself for anything that goes wrong (or the powers that be...yes....).

"Don't have a torque wrench but I do have a small plastic mullet ...."

A plastic mullet? I'd like to see that. Does anyone remember plastic Beatle wigs from the 60's? (Crap, am I THAT old?)

YES! Replace the split pin every time, they only cost a few cents or get an assortment box, very handy.

[Madness]

Don't have a torque wrench but I do have a small plastic mullet which is similar I assume.

They are virtually identical in every way. Why do you think those Baurepaires guys all have them?

Well, maybe you don't need a torque wrench, but....it is one thing for someone with experience to guess an appropriate torque, .....tests conducted using experienced mechanics show they can average about +- 35% of a specified torque.

Many cheap (under $100) made in Taiwan or China Torque Wrenches will give you a similar level of accuracy. particularly at either end of the scale of the given Wrench. The only area of a bike I'd be concerned enough to use a Torque Wrench on would be the engine. Twitchy tight works for me.

[vifferman]

You think that's bad - one whole half of my swingarm fell off!

[The Stranger:Me]

Many cheap (under $100) made in Taiwan or China Torque Wrenches will give you a similar level of accuracy. particularly at either end of the scale of the given Wrench. The only area of a bike I'd be concerned enough to use a Torque Wrench on would be the engine. Twitchy tight works for me.

Agreed on the cheap torque wrenches, and hey fine by me how you work on your own bike. But as I say, I don't however believe that it is appropriate to expect others to have your abilities. Aff-Man was sure he had his callipers done up properly too, just before one fell off and he found out whilst braking for a corner. he was lucky, the next one may not be.

Oh, and there is a certain member who ran his engine on account of the sump plug falling out during a race. Wonder if he (or the other riders in that race) wished that a torque wrench had been used? nah, who needs one aye.

[ManDownUnder]

Hey small point, and maybe it's a lack of mechanical experience...

But during my time as a fitter, and the last 20something years of owning a bike... I have NEVER seen a castellated nut and split pin fail/fall off/be gone - like yours did.

I'd be looking for someone that thought it'd be funny to see what happenes when "the bike goes all wiggly"

Watch yourself. Brake lines, wheel nuts etc...

[Ixion]

I've known a split pin fail and disappear, though only when it wasn't properly fitted (only one leg bent over, which snapped off).

But I've never knbown an axle nut , split pinned or not, to completely disappear.

Yith, it sounds odd to me.

[vamr]

You think that's bad - one whole half of my swingarm fell off!

Those bastard magpies! Time for a lead swingarm me thinks.

[Pancakes]

Yeah, If your gonna shell out for a torque wrench get one that you trust the numbers on. Why pay lots for a tool that lies to you? Half price isn't cheap for the wrong answer! You hardly ever need one anyhow. Me and 6 mates split the cost of a snap-on one and got it cheap by ordering thru another mate who is a mechanic and has a work account, than you can build up a collection of those funny big sockets too. Axle will be fine with done up plus a wee bit more, if your not sure post on the site. I'm positive you'll get help. Do use locktite too, you can feel the real tension as it goes on and gives some peace of mind knowing it should stay put without over tightening. My new bike doesn't have a castle nut or split pin but we break suspension bits on the trash cars a bit and I have gone to using bicycle spokes instead and bending the ends over, they rattle a bit but say put and a free from used bike rims. Unless the split pin falls out first I can't see any way that a loose nut could sheer the pin! A piece of fishing nylon in the hole (I'm not even suggesting this is ok as a split pin replacement) could foul your plans of taking the nut off so a loose nut sheering the pin? Doubt it, use a nut from a nut and bolt store, any reasonable steel, tell the staff what its for and you'll be right, replace the axle if the thread is poked. If somethings wrecked it a bit whats left probably is very strong either. Good luck and I hope no-ones out to get you, a paint pen to dab on those essential joins might alert you to tampering if thats the case?

[Horney1]

Will be sure to interegate with malice my so called classmates at the earliest convenience!

Yes indeed, will be sure to get a sizable quantity of split pins to avoid such scenarios in the future. Cheers for the advice.

By the way, if you have the time would you mind writing up a review of your KTM please?

Gidday vamr,

I did a quick review on another post titled KTM LC8 seizure. It was taken for 48 hours by the cops!!!!

Cheers

[Toaster]

dropping your nuts is never a good thing at the best of times... where was your split pin.. ya know the one that stops the nut from falling off it becomes loose?? ...Nut insurance if you like...

Little story about nuts... I was having a first crack at mountain biking in taupo last week. Being a jackass, I had to try a steep track in the bush. Came off coming downhill over a couple jumps, feet already off the pedals - hit the second jump and landed my nuts squarely on the spinning rear tyre, which continued to spin as I felt the chunky tyre treads thrash my precious parts. Hit my chest on the seat then on the tyre too, before I finally let go in defeat and landed down a bank in blackberries..... mmmm blackberries.

[Horney1]

Little story about nuts... I was having a first crack at mountain biking in taupo last week. Being a jackass, I had to try a steep track in the bush. Came off coming downhill over a couple jumps, feet already off the pedals - hit the second jump and landed my nuts squarely on the spinning rear tyre, which continued to spin as I felt the chunky tyre treads thrash my precious parts. Hit my chest on the seat then on the tyre too, before I finally let go in defeat and landed down a bank in blackberries..... mmmm blackberries.

Sounds like you might have been better off throwing the bike away mid-air Toaster! Have you bought a rear carrier yet?

[ManDownUnder]

Yeah, If your gonna shell out for a torque wrench get one that you trust the numbers on.

Agreed but... for a WHEEL NUT?

Naaaaaaa - seriously. Take it up to "light/medium ooomph" using a mid sized spanner. That's tight enough. A bit tighter if you need to line up the splin pin hole with the castellations on the nut and you're done.

Put it another way - when was the last time you saw a mechanic pull out the torque wrench for use on a wheel nut?

[Pancakes]

Yeah agreed, that post was for the types who don't seem to have a grip on how tight "tight enough" is and insist on measuring. I don't use the torque wench for wheel/axle nuts, you can feel when the metal has used some of it's spring. No pin on mine either. I do use a drop of loctite on the nut for that reason but would be amazed if one just "came loose".