Safety wire accessory hex-shaped clips

[dmjlambert]

I had on my list of things to do to safety wire the exhaust manifold bolts the next time I had the exhaust manifold bolts out. I bookmarked some interesting tabs or clips. The clips are like a steel washer-like material that goes under the bolt head, it is oversized, stamp-cut with 6 tabs, and folded such that a 9/16 bolt head or nut fits in it and you would use a size up socket or wrench to tighten the bolt (use 5/8 or 11/16 socket fits on the bolt with clip). The tabs of this clip extend higher than the bolt head. Holes are in the tabs allowing use of safety wire without drilling the bolt heads. So just insert the bolt or nut into this thing, and screw it on and torque it, and there you have a fastener that can be safety wired.

The problem is I have lost the bookmark, and can't figure out what these were called, and can't find them in my searches. I am recalling from my memory they may have been from McMaster Carr, but don't know for sure. I think they would be pretty nifty and very convenient for some situations, and header or exhaust manifold bolts come to mind as one use case. I have been using french locks, but they don't do the bolts where I use air conditioner bracketry, and don't do the inner bolts of the exhaust manifold, and they are sharp-edged, inconvenient, and not very re-useable. Does anybody recognize the devices I am describing that a bolt or washer would fit into and allow convenient safety wiring?

[notsolo]

Eckler's might have them, exhaust manifold locking tab. Stainless set of 4. Might also be called a French lock.

[dmjlambert]

Thanks, but french locks is what I'm trying to stop using. I don't really like and don't work for my truck with exhaust-mounted A/C compressor brakets.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Something like this? https://www.summitracing.com/parts/ptm-pp2765

[dmjlambert]

No, but thanks I saw those. The ones I found before were very convenient and did not require any tab bending. They are already precisely formed in various sizes for various nuts. You just insert the nut or bolt, tighten down, and wire using any of the 6 holes. I'll probably end up drilling the bolt heads using a drill guide. I was hoping to avoid that extra hour or 2 of work and tool purchase.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Sounds cool.
Those Stage 8 bolts/nuts with the teardrop anchors look pretty slick too

[Rust_never_sleeps]

Originally Posted by Rust_never_sleeps

Sounds cool.
Those Stage 8 bolts/nuts with the teardrop anchors look pretty slick too

These are what I saw, not to complicate this any further:

[truckster]

I used these and they worked really well for me:

https://www.opgi.com/exhaust/manifol...c-g240798.html

[dmjlambert]

That looks interesting. How are they installed?

[truckster]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

That looks interesting. How are they installed?

The tab goes toward the manifold and keeps the lock from turning. You bend one of the tabs against the bolt head and it keeps the bolt from turning.

I like them because they're individual - one per bolt. And they've held really well on my L31 with 2 1/5" rams horns.

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by truckster

The tab goes toward the manifold and keeps the lock from turning. You bend one of the tabs against the bolt head and it keeps the bolt from turning.

I like them because they're individual - one per bolt. And they've held really well on my L31 with 2 1/5" rams horns.

That does look pretty good. It is appealing except for the bending of the tab is inconvenient. It looks a lot better than french locks, which are only for some of the outer bolts, won't do all the bolts, and I found the french locks to be really difficult to bend the tabs, and to press them flat again when taking the bolts loose.

[truckster]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

That does look pretty good. It is appealing except for the bending of the tab is inconvenient. It looks a lot better than french locks, which are only for some of the outer bolts, won't do all the bolts, and I found the french locks to be really difficult to bend the tabs, and to press them flat again when taking the bolts loose.

I didn't have any trouble with installing these. I've never had to remove them. I like how clean they look, too.

[dmjlambert]

That looks fun, but won't work for my exhaust manifolds with Alan Grove A/C bracket. I have a variety of bolt types and lengths.

[dmjlambert]

I made a mock-up using a coffee can bottom, so I can search using image search, but no luck. If I can ever find the source of these I'm going to order some. The ones I saw that are ready made are strong and made with precision, you can hardly see the cuts in the metal, and they are made to use the next wrench sizes up so some thought went into selecting the metal thickness, 1/32 or 1/16 I'm not sure.

[nightmare]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32579054513...mis&media=COPY

Not something like this, is it?

[dmjlambert]

Originally Posted by nightmare

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32579054513...mis&media=COPY

Not something like this, is it?

No, but thanks. Those look like header bolts.

[Orange Crate]

Wow good idea. I need some now. Maybe a group buy with a drawing? Who on here is good with Fusion360 or FreeCad? 18gauge 304SS?

https://www.bokers.com/

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Orange Crate

Wow good idea. I need some now. Maybe a group buy with a drawing? Who on here is good with Fusion360 or FreeCad? 18gauge 304SS?

https://www.bokers.com/

Only problem is that group buys are not allowed on the board. Almost every time someone has started one it has gone south, so the board Administrators have banned them.

LockDoc, Moderator

[truckster]

Here's a picture of the Pontiac locks installed.

[Rust_never_sleeps]

those look cool. Too bad image search failed, because keyword search was kicking my @$$ ;-)

[dmjlambert]

I think some individual just needs to buy them for all of us. :-) Or have some made and offer the leftovers here using their premium subscription.

I think 22 gauge metal will allow use of the next 1/16 wrench/socket size up wrench on the bolt. Or 16 gauge to allow use of the next 1/8 socket size up. That is based on what I see on this chart. 22 gauge to allow going up only 1/16 wrench size is probably much better because there may not be enough room to fit a 1/8 bigger socket where cast iron manifolds are used.

Or somebody with better searching skills than me find them for sale. I am so mad that I lost my bookmark. I remember when I found those, I further searched to see if I could find multiple brands or sources of the devices, and I could not find any. Just the one catalog entry with a variety of sizes. I bookmarked it, but should have just immediately bought a bunch of them.

[MARKDTN]

If you want locking and clean looks how about a Nord-Lock washer? You can get 20 worth on Amazon for $20.

[dmjlambert]

I kind of like the Nord-Lock washers idea. I have imperfect surfaces on engine head and exhaust manifolds, so I use gaskets. I've already tried cleaning the surfaces well and installing without gaskets, and it leaks. I'm going through gasket recommendations found on this forum, it's either going to be Fel-Pro or Remflex next. Mr. Gasket and Cometic armored didn't work out so well. Are Nord-Lock washers OK for use with gaskets? Remflex gasket has lower torque recommendation at 20 ft-lb than Nord-Lock washers at 31 ft-lb so I'm wondering if the Nord-Lock washers will lock adequately at 20 ft-lb. I've usually followed the service manual torque values, which are higher torque on the inner bolts and lower on the outer bolts, but those values would not be designed for gaskets, so what to do. I'm leaning toward safety wire because I think it will be easier than bending tabs when dealing with cramped quarters working on it with the engine installed, and there is not an additional torque value to consider because I would follow the Remflex value.

I didn't know I had to work on getting the exhaust manifolds right and repeat work until I found the right formula. On most areas of the truck I just go to the car parts store and get whatever I need and install it and I'm done, but apparently there are lessons to be learned on exhaust manifold gaskets.

[MARKDTN]

Originally Posted by dmjlambert

I kind of like the Nord-Lock washers idea. I have imperfect surfaces on engine head and exhaust manifolds, so I use gaskets. I've already tried cleaning the surfaces well and installing without gaskets, and it leaks. I'm going through gasket recommendations found on this forum, it's either going to be Fel-Pro or Remflex next. Mr. Gasket and Cometic armored didn't work out so well. Are Nord-Lock washers OK for use with gaskets? Remflex gasket has lower torque recommendation at 20 ft-lb than Nord-Lock washers at 31 ft-lb so I'm wondering if the Nord-Lock washers will lock adequately at 20 ft-lb. I've usually followed the service manual torque values, which are higher torque on the inner bolts and lower on the outer bolts, but those values would not be designed for gaskets, so what to do.....

I do think Nord-Locks have minimum torque values as you say. I do not have any experience using them in an exhaust application but they are used in some applications where bolt loosening is unacceptable.

[dmjlambert]

I fabricated one more from 22 gauge steel sheet using hand tools. This fits on a 9/16 bolt head and works with a 5/8 socket, or 16mm is even a little better socket to use. If precisely made with 22 gauge stainless steel it would probably fit a 5/8 socket perfectly.