Does your bike comply?

[Drew]

Fuck you're a grumpy cunt, "Explaination" isn't a word you neanderthal.

Hehehe, I tend to get a bit carried away, I'll grant you.

How about you offer an explanation of the application of lock wire yourself smarty pants?

Ummm, I don't have one. I thought I'd made that clear. I think it achieves nothing but letting incompetent people feel pro when spannering.

I've left a bolt or two loose in my time, (not that I would call myself overly competent), but I would have done it regardless of having to lock wire something.

[Mental Trousers]

I've left a bolt or two loose in my time, (not that I would call myself overly competent), but I would have done it regardless of having to lock wire something.

That's the thing with lock wiring - if it isn't wired you didn't tighten it and you can see the proof.

[tail_end_charlie]

My understanding is that lockwiring is has a two-fold use:

1. It serves as an 'indicator' so that everyone knows that a bolt or fastener that has been lock wired is torqued to the proper specs (you ONLY lockwire a fastener after you personally have torqued it). This is especially useful in a team situation where you have different people working on different parts at different times and won't know what the other person has done. It is used extensively in the aircraft industry mainly for that point.

2. Lock-wiring a fastener will keep that part from working its way out due to vibration. Lock-wiring should not be used to keep the fastener tight, only to keep it engaged. If you do the lock-wire up too tight on the fastener, it can very easily (and surprisingly quickly) fatigue and break, rendering the whole process useless.

[roogazza]

That's the thing with lock wiring - if it isn't wired you didn't tighten it and you can see the proof.

I know a bloke, who ran a TZ in the 70s. Was one of the most immaculate bike prep exponents I've ever seen. Lock wired everything.In fact he was working on F1 cars in England for a while. Lives in France now and posts on Motomatters as 'Kiwi'.

Anyway,I digress, only thing I remember using lockwire on was the sumpplug, it was in the rules in the olden days and you had to do it.
I guess the poor scutineers nowdays have to sit there with a socket set ?

[lostinflyz]

sitting here now reading this, i know i lockwired my brake bolts for tomorrow...... but i cant recall tightening them up all. hahhaha

[gav]

Re Lock wiring ....
If it's not suppose to keep things tight, why do people lock wire hand grips on?

[Dave-]

Re Lock wiring ....
If it's not suppose to keep things tight, why do people lock wire hand grips on?

Cause it works?

[Drew]

Re Lock wiring ....
If it's not suppose to keep things tight, why do people lock wire hand grips on?

Are you kidding, or simple? That has nothing to do with lock wiring bolts.

Lock wire around the grips, stops them twisting and sliding off. But it's not a rigid material. The rubber takes up the vibration, so it doesn't fatigue so easily.

Over tighten it though, and it snaps quick smart.

[suzuki21]

My understanding is that lockwiring is has a two-fold use:

1. It serves as an 'indicator' so that everyone knows that a bolt or fastener that has been lock wired is torqued to the proper specs (you ONLY lockwire a fastener after you personally have torqued it). This is especially useful in a team situation where you have different people working on different parts at different times and won't know what the other person has done. It is used extensively in the aircraft industry mainly for that point.

2. Lock-wiring a fastener will keep that part from working its way out due to vibration. Lock-wiring should not be used to keep the fastener tight, only to keep it engaged. If you do the lock-wire up too tight on the fastener, it can very easily (and surprisingly quickly) fatigue and break, rendering the whole process useless.

Very good explanation.
1. - "It serves as an 'indicator'" Not only do some people forget to do their own stuff up due to various reasons - talking, distractions, hot chicks walking past etc.
2. - "This is especially useful in a team situation where you have different people working on different parts at different times". Think of the teams that have riders that haven't been in that team before, two people each working on a side each? A rider can glance and have peace of mind the brakes are all good.

Would everyone complaining about this rule accept someone they don't know to put their calipers on?

[SWERVE]

As many have pointed out lock wiring has different uses:
As a prevention of loosening such as twist grips and oil filters.
As a visual of tightening such as caliper bolts ( cos I wont lockwire a bolt I haven't checked is tight) would you?
And a way of securing "r" clips or pins from detaching themselves (and loosing them when removed)
But it still has to be done correctly. As stated wire wound too tight can break with the slightest tension or vibration. Wire tensioning in the wrong direction on filters is useless or possible cause of loosening.
How/where you drill the bolt depends how effective the wire becomes. We used to wire ALL the clutch/alternator bolts years ago (what a tedious task) with each linked together in a way that if a bolt tried to undo it was trying to do up the connected bolt, and therefore could not slacken.
A single hole in a bolt head and slack in the wire (which you need a tiny amount) will not necessarily stop it from rattling loose. A twin hole straight through is best IMHO.
Just my thoughts

[quickbuck]

The problem with Lockwire is that 99% of racers are USELESS at doing it!
Some even confuse it with Safety wire!
They are two very different animals.
Safety wire is designed to snap, and usually used for switches that are only switched in an emergency.
This is so the Ground Crew can see if a switch was used in flight.
It is made of copper.

Lockwire done correctly will not break.
Yup read that again.....

It is always in an application where it tends to tighten one or more bolts or nuts.
It has a minimum thickness of 0.025" (usually 0.032", sometimes 0.040") in mechanical applications.
0.020" in electrical applications.

In 32 thou lockwire the twist ratio is 10 to 12 TPI, and it must never be unwound if you put in too many twists.
It must also be tight, thus never allowing the fasteners to back off.

It is not the primary tightening devise. The Torque of the fastener is!

In 23 years I have never seen correctly applied lockwire break.
I have seen broken lockwire but in all cases you could see it was incorrectly installed.
I have even undone Stiff-nuts with the heads of the bolts lockwired together and the lockwire hasn't broken.
The torque put through the heads wasn't light either!

MT, have a look under your engine, there may well be a block of casting that you can drill into as an anchor point.

If you want lessons on how to lockwire correctly, track me down and I will show you.

[steveyb]

Hey Aaron.
Next meeting I would be keen to demonstrate to you/have you demonstrate to me.
I think I am pretty good at it, but would love to be improved.

CU there.

Steve

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Your welcome

[quickbuck]

Hey Aaron.
Next meeting I would be keen to demonstrate to you/have you demonstrate to me.
I think I am pretty good at it, but would love to be improved.

CU there.

Steve

Sweet as.
I could do a 15 Minute workshop on it..... for those keen.

[quickbuck]

Your welcome

That is a good guide.....
Might be right with 7 to 10 tpi for 32 thou too.... I just know what looks right, and what is over-stressed....

Like all guides though nothing beats a practical demonstration and practice really.
Like you can't learn how to weld properly out of a book.....