Using nylon locking nuts / nylocks once

Simon Hitchen · #1 11-21-2006, 07:08 PM

I seem to remember a note saying you may use nylon locking nuts more than once, is this correct? Difference of opinion with a friend. Cant find the reference at the moment.

Situation is that im attaching the ailerons with all hardware but not torquing the nuts, adjusting, removing with plan to finally install the surfaces after wing mounting. Can those same nuts be reused, and if so how many times.

jlfernan · #2 11-21-2006, 07:35 PM

Most A&P's I know use the standard that if the nut cannot be turned by your bare hand, it's OK.

Kyle Boatright · #3 11-21-2006, 07:36 PM

Tony Bingelis and others have suggested that you can re-use 'em as long as they have holding ability. Personally, I wouldn't re-use them on anything that moves (like the hinges for ailerons)...

walter · #4 11-21-2006, 07:39 PM

I bought bags of them as OSH, hundreds of 'em. I use them once and
toss. Why worry about it? Singly they are so cheap and by the gross
not that expensive. I reuse the metal locknuts in the high temperature
areas several times.

Ironflight · #5 11-21-2006, 07:49 PM

Another trick for temporary assembly is to buy none-locking hardware-store nuts, and spray paint them flourescent orange. Use them in the shop when putting things togetehr, taking them apart, putting together, apart, etc....make sure there are no orange parts left during final assembly!

Or, like Walter suggested, buy a bags of the lock nuts, use them once and throw them away...

cytoxin · #6 11-22-2006, 05:07 AM

says if you can turn them by hand to toss them. i never reuse them however and i wouldnt use hardware store bolts either. any thing can be left behind. at the very least i would (and do ) use a batch of used ones for this. paint them orange and reuse them if you want to seperate them. but dont use plain ones. they may sit in the temporay configuration for a year or more.
when final i apply torque seal and go. no torque seal, it gets a new nut for fianl assy.

Mel · #7 11-22-2006, 07:11 AM

It is perfectly acceptable to reuse nylock nuts as long as you cannot install them by hand. The locking mechanism is secondary to the nut being torqued. If you want to use them once and throw them away, that's you choice, but it is certainly not necessary.

sglynn · #8 06-29-2009, 12:12 AM

I've heard but can't confirm that, "you can use a nyloc nut only once." Is it true? If I've turned a nyloc nut on a bolt all the way, but then half to take it off for whatever reason can I re install it or do I need to us a brand new un-used nyloc for flying?

thanks

jimgreen · #9 06-29-2009, 12:40 AM

Nylock nuts are routinely reused. If the insert is damaged in any way discard it. Make sure as you spin the nut on that it can't be turned with your fingers once the threads reach the nylon insert.

For temporary fitting of parts where they need repeated removal for adjustment I prefer to use castle nuts - much quicker to spin on and off.
Just make darn sure you use the specified nut for final assembly. Using torque seal after you have torqued the nut in final assembly is a good way to avoid a mistake.

For final assembly of critical parts (such as tail attach) I prefer to use new nylock nuts, bolts and washers.

plehrke · #10 06-29-2009, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimgreen

Nylock nuts are routinely reused. If the insert is damaged in any way discard it. Make sure as you spin the nut on that it can't be turned with your fingers once the threads reach the nylon insert.

Any doubt, replace the nut. They are cheap (relative to effect if the nut comes loose). If it is a nut you take off for routine maintenance (during annual) consider using a castle nut with cotter pin.