Securing fasteners

[Wouter Mollers]

While reviewing the 2003 Formula SAE Rules for the xxxth time around, rule number 3.7.2.2 caught my eye. It states that "All cirtical bolts, nuts, and other fasteners on the steering, braking, safety harness, and suspension must be secured from unintentional loosening by the use of positive locking mechanisms." Please speak up if I'm mistaken, but almost all FSAE cars don't have positive locking mechanisms on their a-arms, trackrods and/or pull/pushrods.

Looking forward to your interpretation of this particular subject,

Wouter Mollers
Suspension Manager DUTRacing
Delft University of Technology

[Wouter Mollers]

While reviewing the 2003 Formula SAE Rules for the xxxth time around, rule number 3.7.2.2 caught my eye. It states that "All cirtical bolts, nuts, and other fasteners on the steering, braking, safety harness, and suspension must be secured from unintentional loosening by the use of positive locking mechanisms." Please speak up if I'm mistaken, but almost all FSAE cars don't have positive locking mechanisms on their a-arms, trackrods and/or pull/pushrods.

Looking forward to your interpretation of this particular subject,

Wouter Mollers
Suspension Manager DUTRacing
Delft University of Technology

[Richard Lewis]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> Please speak up if I'm mistaken, but almost all FSAE cars don't have positive locking mechanisms on their a-arms, trackrods and/or pull/pushrods.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

All I can say to that, is that we certainly do make sure we have positive locking mechanisms on all those bolts you listed, unless they are entering a blind hole.

-------------------------
UVIC Formula SAE Team
http://members.shaw.ca/drax77/Formula%20UVic%20Sig.jpg
http://uvic.fsae.ca

[Charlie]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wouter Mollers:
Please speak up if I'm mistaken, but almost all FSAE cars don't have positive locking mechanisms on their a-arms, trackrods and/or pull/pushrods.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'd say you are mistaken. Everything on our car is positive locking, blind holes are safety wired.

-Charlie Ping
Auburn University FSAE 1999-present

[Dominic Venieri]

i believe that refers to jam nuts on rod ends (such as you see on push/pull rods etc), and then obviously the use of nyloc nuts or safety wired nuts everywhere else.

www.formularpi.com (http://www.formularpi.com)

[vinHonda]

I'm curious to know how people are securing their safety harnesses. We have latch type mechanism that will latch onto a bent piece of 3/16 solid bar welded to the main roll hoop.

The Rules committee however, does not do the approval of the "way in which the harness is secured to the car". It is apparently the SCCA Safety Director. I was just wondering how other teams do it.....and if you think this is ok?

Our harness is the OMP Professional 6.3. Meets all FIA 8853/98 specs...and is brand new.

Any thoughts?

Vinh

University of Toronto Formula SAE Racing Team
www.fsae.utoronto.ca (http://www.fsae.utoronto.ca)

[Wouter Mollers]

After checking all my pics from Formula Student 2002, in combination with your replies, I feel confident to say that a standard nut is allowed to secure a rod-end (or trackrod e.g.) in a certain position.

Hope to see you at Formula Student 2003!

Wouter