M10 and Safety Wire

[2002#3]

What are your wise thoughts and experienced actions re: safety wiring bolts and other fasteners on a carbureted non-race M10 engine?

• Which should or must be safety wired?
• Which are not particularly necessary but might be recommended?
• Cam gear bolts?  Oil pump nut?  Certain nuts on carbs?  Fuel pump hose clamps?  Others?
• Is LocTite sufficient for all or most applications?
• Did BMW wire any fasteners during during production of 2002's?

Thanks.

Edited January 31 by 2002#3

[TobyB]

From BMW, only the bolts on the bottoms of the strut tubes were wired.

 

And had they had loctite red, I don't think they would have

bothered with those.

 

Things that come loose?

The bolts on the bottoms of the strut tubes.

I've had the halfshaft bolts come loose.

I've had the halfshaft nuts come loose.

I've had the throttle linkage come apart.

I've had the nuts holding the carb come loose.

I bet others have more.

 

t

Edited January 31 by TobyB

[Son of Marty]

BMW used lock plates for the cam gear bolts but these really don't seem to come lose much and here I would use loc-tite and not safety wire, the oil pump nut needs to be secured with wire or a spot weld IMO.

[tech71]

I lived the safety wire world through out my career, it was mandatory .

I dont see it as necessary on an 02 engine and locating proper drilled head bolts/nuts are a pain to procure as is drilling them yourself.

Maybe on the oil pump nut if you have that style pump but everywhere else?

Dont bother, clean threads, locktite, new lock washer, proper torque and your good to go.

Edited February 1 by tech71

[Preyupy]

LocTite is just fine.  Even on the race engines that is all I use on the cam gear bolts.  Also LocTite on the oil pump nut (make sure you put the washer BEHIND the gear and NOT between the nut and the gear!!) 

[2002#3]

Thanks for the thoughtful comments and wise suggestions.

 

Just as I thought:  not all that important in the engine (maybe OP shaft nut).  I know about the use of safety wire in a few locations in the suspension, drive train, and axles/halfshafts.  I thought the suggestion of safety wire being used to secure the inlet and outlet of the fuel pump was a good idea.   So, I did that a few years ago (photo).

 

 

 

[VWScott]

I've always heard the fuel inlet on old Solex carbs was suspect since it was a press fit. Guys I know on VWs that still sun Solex carbs safety wire them. Good friend of mine lost his car to a fire because of that issue.

[2002#3]

Interesting - the above FP serves 2 Solex 40PHH carbs.

[tech71]

What exactly is the safety wire attached to in this pic? 

Doesn't seem to be doing anything useful... sorry

 

[2002#3]

The wire connects the in and out FP hose clamps and prevents both hoses from slipping off.  Certainly neither necessary nor the typical use of safety wire, I admit.  I saw this use on this site and thought it might be a good idea.  My '73 had one of these hoses slip of many years ago.  Not fun.

[uai]

I've seen the hollow bolt on the oil gallery safetywired

['76mintgrün'02]

I had taken Ed's advice and wire tied the clamps together on the stubby pump, to insure against the pressed in fittings coming loose.  (bottom side view)

 

Then went back to this pump, not long after that and didn't need the wire.

 

 

 

Edited February 1 by '76mintgrün'02

[2002#3]

Uai,

The spray bar bolt?

[uai]

2 hours ago, 2002#3 said:

Uai,

The spray bar bolt?

Yes exactly. It has a very low torque spec and occsionally loosened.

[kbmb02]

39 minutes ago, uai said:

Yes exactly. It has a very low torque spec and occsionally loosened.

indeed - I safety wire them.

(technique has improved somewhat since this photo was taken). -KB