Delrin Thumbwheels

[annasea]

I picked up some delrin thumbwheels a short while ago and had a chance to use them on a liveaboard a couple of weeks ago.

A question... just how far should the bolt be able to connect with the thumbwheel? Mine stop about a mm or so short of the threaded part.

An observation... somehow I managed to strip one of the thumbwheels. Should some sort of lubricant, WD40, be added before using them?

Thx!

 

[cool_hardware52]

I picked up some delrin thumbwheels a short while ago and had a chance to use them on a liveaboard a couple of weeks ago.

A question... just how far should the bolt be able to connect with the thumbwheel? Mine stop about a mm or so short of the threaded part.

An observation... somehow I managed to strip one of the thumbwheels. Should some sort of lubricant, WD40, be added before using them?

Thx!

Anna,

Like any nut you do need to engage the threads fully. If the bolts on your STA are too short to engage the threads on the thumbwheel you of course can strip the 1 to 1.5 threads the bolt catches.

This is not a problem with the thumbwheels, but is a result of using the wrong length STA bolts.

Regardless of the "nut" used a threaded fastener should engage by at least one bolt diameter. A 5/16" dia STA bolt should project through the plate by 5/16".

DSS does not sell STA's or STA bolts.

There have been many reports of some STA's being sold with bolts that are not long enough to reach through the STA (~.100") + a grommeted wing (~.25") + a back plate (~.125")

There is no need to use and lubricant on a DSS thumbwheel.

Tobin