Help!!! trying to find source, preferably close to Portland, OR for these little doohickeys which came from inside my overdrive. Need 4, their purpose is to keep the nut from twisting/ loosening off the bolt. ID is 1/4 inch OD is 7/16 inch

Any suggestions for alternatives is appreciated, unfortunately normal lockwasher won't work; I woder how long Loctite would last, bathed in superhot tranny oil?

Thanks, Damian

My '86 M46 OD with 240k miles has just special-looking nuts (no washers at all) holding the bridge pieces,

I can't recall seeing these kind of nuts anywhere. I assume they're lock nuts, but no nylon or anything. Ther are about 1/8" thick, but the hex part is just on the lower 1/16" or so. Above the hex is smaller and circular.

The thread is 1/4" x 28. Maybe you can find a locknut that size. Maybe in a bike or motorcycle shop, since I suspect that thread may be 1/4" British Standard Fine (BSF), being a British made OD.
--
Bruce Young,
'93 940-NA (current), '80 GLE V8 (Sold), '86 240dl, '85 244 ti, '83 245t
'76 244 (R.I.P at 255k), 73 142 (98K), '71 144 (ex circle track car)
Used '70 144 from '78 to '92, New 144 from '67 to '78, Used '62 122 from '63 to '67

The tab washer is standard on various bits made by Brits. Most common on your SU throttle shafts. Most supply houses that sell carb rebuild kits should have the tab washers as well.
The funny looking lock nut is indeed a lock nut. The old style before nylocks were invented, the top of the nut is deformed to interfere with the threads on the bolt or stud it is mounted on. Good ole USA engineers did much the same thing by taking a perfectly normal nut and tapering one end then deforming it with a punch. Deformed lock nuts are still available at many auto parts stores.

Mike!

After calling numerous hardware store, autopart stores, tranny shops, performance (speed) shops, British car part companies, etc... I was beginning to get major headache. Decided to try some unconventional sources and looked in the yellow pages under aircraft part/ supply companies.

After 5th company, I hit jackpot. Flightcraft, located by Portland International, had what I was looking for; same size, same tabs, exact same as original, and only 85 cents each. It took around 45 phone calls total, but persistence paid off.

I wouldn't have thought of that -- in a former life, I worked on or around aircraft for 17 years, and never saw a tab washer in that whole time. We safety wired everything.

Thanks for persisting... I'll file that away for future reference.

Phil;

If its good enough to hold things from loosening on vibrating airplanes, it's good enough for me too!...after having a timing gear nut loosen (have you noticed how sloppy the nuts fit on some cams?), I now safety drill and wire those too...and the oil pump countershaft...and the third motor mount bolt...every piece of hardware that's ever had a mind to "go it alone"...God bless anti-seize, and pass the safety wire pliers!

Cheers

Where are these doohickeys located in the OD? I have mine partially in pieces and haven't seen these yet. Wonder if mine are missing or if they came up with a different solution.

Hope this makes sense.... When replacing the o rings on pistons, there is a little metal piece called bridge (approx 2.5" L 1/2" W 1/4" D), which lies on top of each piston. 2 bolts are sticking up through holes on each bridge. There is a tab washer placed between bridge and nut.

It's easy to spot the assembly I'm describing. I pulled the silver OD unit off of red case, looked inside, and there it is on top. Those stupid washers are impossible to find, though I'm following up on some of the excellent suggestions posted; I'll find some sooner or later.

Damian,

No Loctite, please!

I would think some good performance parts place would have these, or be able to get them. They're also used on Weber carbs. Have you tried Baxter's, or Race Central? Or maybe even a real hardware store (as opposed to a home improvement store).

You might be able to steal one off an SU carb throttle shaft.
--
George Downs, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Central US

I've seen bolts with holes in their heads that have wires threaded
through them to keep them from untwisting.

http://www.whizwheels.com/Tips/safetywiring.html