AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Hello all, Just noticed on my 1954 16Ms the bolts holding the petrol tank on all have a small hole drilled through the head suggesting the use of safety wire, is this standard practice and if so how's it done?

Not sure that there is just one way of doing it. The more fastidious amongst us will pretend it's an aero engine and loop them together. Me, I just wire them around the tank mount.
John

Hi John

The more fastidious amongst us would also point out that that's anti-locked

Regards Mick

oldsteve wrote:Hello all, Just noticed on my 1954 16Ms the bolts holding the petrol tank on all have a small hole drilled through the head suggesting the use of safety wire, is this standard practice and if so how's it done?

See pages 31 & 32 of the Workshop Manual in the link below, especially about not overtightening the bolts (which is why they need to be wired):

http://archives.jampot.dk/book/Workshop ... dition.pdf

I agree with Pharisee, if you loop 2 bolts together & the loop snaps, you have the potensial of losing 2 bolts, looped around the frame you lose I bolt.

ianw1 wrote:if you loop 2 bolts together & the loop snaps

If you do it properly with proper locking wire it won't snap ....

Alan

Thanks folks for the feedback, as the wire is literally just to stop vibration unscrewing the bolt, for this particular application would good old fashioned fuse wire do the job, say 20A wire?

No, ideally you need Stainless Steel wire, if you pm me with your address I'll send you some.

And a pair of proper locking wire pliers makes it so much easier and neater.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/lock-wire-pliers/bn_7024964344

Alan

Stainless steel wire and lock-wiring pliers? That's all a bit of overkill for tank bolts n'est pas? I use the earth conductor from lighting circuit twin & earth cable and wrap it round the tank mounts as per Mr Pharisee. I've not lost a tank bolt in nearly 40 years so surely it must have some merit. It's also dirt cheap to replace when you want to remove the bolts too.