AtLast Posted August 21, 2021 Report Share Posted August 21, 2021 Hi all after some advice. Was under the car doing general lubrication and check as got a long trip today (in about two hours!) and noticed that two of the four bolts/nuts that secure the prop to the gearbox seemed loose and I could turn by hand. The nut doesn't turn on the bolt but the bolt and nut turn together. I've not noticed any knocking noises and can't say I've ever checked them before but it this normal as it seems slightly loose when the car is jacked up and thus the prop would be slightly out of alignment. I also can see how I'd get a spanner/socket on the bolt head side if I did need to tighten. Thanks for any advice you may be able to give. Archie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RobH Posted August 21, 2021 Report Share Posted August 21, 2021 (edited) Definitely not normal Archie - do them up before you drive anywhere. If those are loose it would be worth checking the ones at the gearbox end too. If they have been like that for some time the holes in the flange may have worn. A flailing propshaft at engine speed is no joke. Edited August 21, 2021 by RobH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AtLast Posted August 21, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2021 Cheers Rob... thanks. Yep I checked the other end (rear axle end) and they are fine. Some contortions coming up as it's hard get a spanner on the bolt head side. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Harris Posted August 21, 2021 Report Share Posted August 21, 2021 Flat spinner on bolt head and thin sided ring spanner on the nut, get the car on jack stands so you can rotate the prop shaft to get them all tight. Graham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 21, 2021 Report Share Posted August 21, 2021 Hi Archie, if the nut/bolt are tight together but still loose in the fitting then the bolt shank may be too long. Fit a washer or shorter bolt. These bolts tend to be specials. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Smith Posted August 21, 2021 Report Share Posted August 21, 2021 If anyone needs these bolts I have a small quantity of new unused original Stanpart propshaft bolts 107960 that I no longer require. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Surely the 107960 bolts sold by Moss, which I purchased when re-fitting my gearbox in May, will have the correct shank length? I hope so (but will check) - don't want to have to replace them as it's a fiddly job. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
BlueTR3A-5EKT Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 8 minutes ago, ianc said: Surely the 107960 bolts sold by Moss, which I purchased when re-fitting my gearbox in May, will have the correct shank length? I hope so (but will check) - don't want to have to replace them as it's a fiddly job. Ian Cornish 107960 certainly are specials due to their shank length. When I re-sourced those bolts for Moss back in the 90s we got them made identical to the originals. One must hope they continue to source from the same UK supplier who was in Gloucestershire. Do not forget to use the correct nylocs either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 (edited) It has been known for people to put any handy bolt in a hole AND reuse the nyloc. There is an art to bodging !! Roger Edited August 22, 2021 by RogerH Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 (edited) What’s wrong with reusing the nylocs, provided you back it up with Loctite 270. Rgds Ian Edited August 22, 2021 by Ian Vincent Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Hi Ian, the accepted engineering practice is that Nyloc's are used once. I appreciate that in many applications they could be used over and over again even without the Loctite - but that is not the engineering norm. If you go to the trouble of using Loctite where will it end - do you also wire lock and use a spring washer !!! The universal bodge to re-use a Nyloc is to whack the nylon insert end with a hammer so as to deform the thread cut in the nylon so the screw will grip again. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Yes - I purchased new nyloc nuts to go with the new bolts. One doesn't want the prop shaft coming adrift! I keep old nylocs (and other old fixings) for odd jobs where any old nut/bolt will suffice. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ian Vincent Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 3 hours ago, RogerH said: The universal bodge to re-use a Nyloc is to whack the nylon insert end with a hammer so as to deform the thread cut in the nylon so the screw will grip again. One learns something new every day. Clearly you are a much more expert bodger than I am. Rgds Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 As a matter of course I just bin nylocs once removed and always keep a stock of new ones. I restock after after each rebuild Stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AtLast Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 18 hours ago, Bob Smith said: If anyone needs these bolts I have a small quantity of new unused original Stanpart propshaft bolts 107960 that I no longer require. Hi all thanks for all the advice. In the end we took our trip in the family car as couldn’t get to the bolts with enough confidence in time. Will try again this week, making use of local garage’s pit. You all answered pretty much all my questions. Just one more.. I thought that the nylock nuts may be single use but am I ok to just tighten them if I can? Bob thanks for offer of those bolts I’ll try to see what these are first. Is it possible to remove them completely (gearbox end) with everything in place should that be necessary? thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Hi Archie, if you can tighten the bolt in the hole then use the existing nyloc. When it tightens down it will distort the nylon further. If you have to remove and possibly use another bolt then you should fit a new nut. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AtLast Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Ok thanks Roger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Harris Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 Yes you can get them out but you have to be able to rotate the prop shaft to get them in the right place, the one where the grease nipple is in the uni joint is the tricky one. Graham Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 16 minutes ago, Graham Harris said: Yes you can get them out but you have to be able to rotate the prop shaft to get them in the right place, the one where the grease nipple is in the uni joint is the tricky one. Graham Remove the grease nipple, fit the bolt and tighten then refit the grease nipple. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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