Weird Lock Washers - How to deal with these?

[Boatguy]

So this bike came with some really weird lockwashers on the rear sprocket.

Has anyone seen these before? If so, how did you deal with them? It looks like you have to bend them in order to get them away from the nut enough to fit something on there and loosen the nut.

Does that mean they are broken after you take the sprocket off? Or do you reuse these things? Hammer them back into place? They seem a bit ridiculous.

[zero_dgz]

The countershaft sprocket lock washer on my KLR is the same, but beefier. Yes, you just bend it to get it off. And yes, you bend it back when you put it back on. You can get a number of bends out of it before it gives way.


Many of these, you can rotate it 90 degrees or whatever and bend a fresh part of it, repeat as necessary until you've finally metal fatigued all of the possible points off of it, then get a new one. That will be many, many sprocket swaps from now.

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by zero_dgz

The countershaft sprocket lock washer on my KLR is the same, but beefier. Yes, you just bend it to get it off. And yes, you bend it back when you put it back on. You can get a number of bends out of it before it gives way.


Many of these, you can rotate it 90 degrees or whatever and bend a fresh part of it, repeat as necessary until you've finally metal fatigued all of the possible points off of it, then get a new one. That will be many, many sprocket swaps from now.

Thank you! It just seems so counterintuitive to me to keep bending it.


I’m glad it’s as easy as that.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

Thank you! It just seems so counterintuitive to me to keep bending it.


I’m glad it’s as easy as that.

If you ask most manufacturers they will recommend a new one every time. In reality, they can often be used over at least one or two more times before it is a good idea to replace them. They are often made out of an annealed metal, so they bend and flex without inducing as much stress into the metal.

There are a lot of variations on the design depending on the use, but they are often called locking tab washers/tab lock washers.

[Boatguy]

Can I just throw some ny-locks on there or something?

Is there any reason they use these things? From an engineering standpoint?

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

Can I just throw some ny-locks on there or something?

Is there any reason they use these things? From an engineering standpoint?

You don't really need them. I am a fan of serrated flange nuts (with loctite) or stover nuts. Regular nuts and loctite or nylocks also work ok.

Advantage of these comes down to them being minimally affected by or isolated from thermal, chemical,, or other mechanical forces. They can still fail like any other form of retention though.

[Oldenslow]

Originally Posted by Boatguy

Can I just throw some ny-locks on there or something?

Is there any reason they use these things? From an engineering standpoint?

No need whatsoever, unless you want the sprocket to stay on while you ride. For enhanced excitement in your riding, just take them off and throw them away.

[Boatguy]

Originally Posted by Oldenslow

No need whatsoever, unless you want the sprocket to stay on while you ride. For enhanced excitement in your riding, just take them off and throw them away.

I’m not saying no lockwashers. I’m just saying not these weird ones. What about just putting good old Nylok lockwashers on? Like I use everywhere else.

[buzz]

Hi just reuse,do it all of the time.