Check your nuts!

[ScottW]

Thanks Michelle. One more thing to add to my 'preflight' checklist on the 'stream.
Good luck this fire season.

[thecatsandi]

I looked. We have the low strength, Low temp Red. And no I did not prep the bolts. They should come off with some effort in 10 or 20 years.

[thecatsandi]

Vaseline on the ball and trunion pins. I carry small jar and change it regularly.

[bigeasy63]

Say you are on a trip and not near a shop, or you are just a broke cheapskate like me...you can use fingernail polish to secure a loose nut. It may not hold for years, but it works great in a jam. Plus if you have a spill or accident just grab some polish remover. I recommend clear. It usually breaks free fairly easily but will hold up to moderate vibration and use. I use it to secure the sights and lights on my weapon system and it has never failed.

OK...enough about fingernail polish....now where did I put those nuts?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by bigeasy63

Say you are on a trip and not near a shop, or you are just a broke cheapskate like me...you can use fingernail polish to secure a loose nut. It may not hold for years, but it works great in a jam. Plus if you have a spill or accident just grab some polish remover. I recommend clear. It usually breaks free fairly easily but will hold up to moderate vibration and use. I use it to secure the sights and lights on my weapon system and it has never failed.

OK...enough about fingernail polish....now where did I put those nuts?

White out will work also. You can just grab some out of your desk on the way out, and toss it in a drawer.

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I looked. We have the low strength, Low temp Red. And no I did not prep the bolts. They should come off with some effort in 10 or 20 years.

Glad to hear it! You should be set then. I too use wheel bearing grease on my hitch. Another useful produce when putting fasteners in aluminum, such a spark plugs in an aluminum head, is locktite's anti-seize. It's also used on fuel injectors in diesels.

Vaughan

[BillTex]

Hey Michelle, thanx for the heads up. Checked my awning bolts while prepping for a trip last night; guess what?

Couple of em' were loose.

Everyone should add this to their check list.
I would hate to have those come undone going down the trail...

Thanx again-Happy 4th to all!

Bill

[cammur]

Two other ZipDee things to check with each outing, based on experience:

• Tightness of the Clamp wheels - Once I lost one in travel, fortunately awning stayed rolled.
• Because of the above, for added security I tighten a Velcro loop around the two arms of the awning, both forward and aft, just in case I lose another clamp wheel.
• The Travel Latch (that little thing you hook/unhook with the rod you use to pull down the awning fabric) claims to be self-locking, but it had loosened to just short of falling on mine. Thanks Michelle! I found this while checking my acorn nuts (which were tight, incidentally). I added blue LockTite and screwed it back in, and will check it regularly on future outings.

(Spell checker prefers "lactate" to LockTite, but I think I'll stick with my spelling, even if not quite right!)

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by vswingfield

Another useful produce when putting fasteners in aluminum, such a spark plugs in an aluminum head, is locktite's anti-seize.

Vaughan

For god's sake, don't put it on your lug nuts! I had to remove some today that the vehicle's owner thought would help. Talk about a gummed-up mess!

[mistral blue]

Originally Posted by thecatsandi

I removed all 10 of the nuts...

Maybe I'm nuts, but when I went to check my Zip Dee I could only find 6. 3 on each side.

(Here you go.) Can someone please help me find my nuts?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by mistral blue

Maybe I'm nuts, but when I went to check my Zip Dee I could only find 6. 3 on each side.

(Here you go.) Can someone please help me find my nuts?

Oh, boy. Good thing this is a family forum, or I could really help you out...
I have 3 on each end on the bottom, and 2 on each end on the top. 3+2=5x2=10.

[dudebb]

For some reason this thread is reminding me of the Irishman watching his first basebal game and the batter 'walks" beacause he has four balls..... but that's another story. Does it make sense that my 62 has large screws (2 on the bottom of each arm) holding - or better yet not holding - the arm to the body?? I noticed this following my trailer home as a friend towed it down the road and watching the rear arm floating out and in as we went along. I figured I'd have to go to the next size up to secure it . Any ideas??
George

[thecatsandi]

I have more nuts since I have four awnings. Sorry Guys.

[safari57]

I sadly must note that since I have a home made awning I regrettably have no nuts to check. Talk about feeling short-changed or what....I knew I had forgotten to include something when I built the thing.

Barry