Safety Wire, How To???

[Curt C.]

Got some Mr Gasket safety wire coming. I am planning to change the rotors on my Wilwood four piston disc brake set up which will accomodate safety wire. Any tricks or tips? Thanks
Curt

[Mike Hausner]

Curt, Go to "wicksaircraft.com", select "Shop entire catalog", then go to the hardware section. there is a description of how to apply safety wire. It helps if you have one of those safety wire tools - I got mine from JC Whitney. Safety wire application is almost an art form. Have fun!...............MH

[Mr.Fixit]

Tie two bolts together with each piece of wire. Tension should be so that the bolt would want to tighten if the wire were pulled on. Get the pliers so you can twist it easily. Don't stretch the wire, and don't have it loose. Wire is cheap, if it doesn't turn out right, cut it off and try again. Watch for kinks in the wire, they will weaken it significantly.

[Allan A]

I have a NAVY specification for tie wiring, it was used to captivate componets on Nuclear bridge cranes. I will dig it up and make it into a PDF file for anyone who is interested. The tool is available at McMaster Carr.

Allan

[Satanpez]

Carrol Smith's book has a good chapter on it.

Look on Buy.com for Carrol Smith. (I think it's called Nuts, Fasteners and Plumbing) Highly reccomend it. Good reading.

-steve in nj-

[Silk]

I second the Smith book. Excellent pictures of safety wire used in various applications. Sounds like dull reading but isn't (jeeze - maybe I need to get a life - here I am enthusing about a book on fasteners ).

[Satanpez]

The book is "riveting"

-steve in nj-

[TheRobb]

Depending upon the thickness of the wire, there is a particular "turns per inch" that you should not exceed.

Too few turns, and its not as effective.
Too many turns, the metal is stressed and becomes weak.

Definately get a pair of safety wire pliers, if you want it to look anything near decent.
Also, Position then "exit" holes, where the safety wire is tightened down onto the bolt sides, so that they appose each other, when the bolt is turned to the loosen position.

In other words, imagine the bolt working itself loose. If the safety wire exits on the other side of the bolt, in relationship to where the safety wire leads to, then it will allow the bolt to loosen 1/2 a turn.

-Robb