How often do you check your hardware?

[SXIPro]

So, after having to swim my ski in last week because it was acting funny, only to discover the carbs were now held on by one nut and basically flopping in the breeze, I created this poll.

And BE HONEST. No shaming please.

 

[mikesx]

Handlepole/steering ,before, during, after every ride!

 

[Storbeck]

It's not so much that I check my hardware, I just take my junk apart a lot for other reasons, and usually when I put it back together I tighten everything.

 

[Harbor]

Usually when the junk is falling off….I have known items that need Loctite, coupler cover, trim and hose clamps. Recently on a new build I had my water manifold come loose and the Handler poll brackets bolts all backed out…. Bolts we’re too short…

 

[Quinc]

I give her a once over before almost every trip. I also loctite, use lock nuts and lock washers on my carbs after a set of 38's that kept coming loose..

 

[yamanube]

I've seen carbs come loose from a long road trip, after that I am pretty anal about checking them. I go over the easy to get to stuff every couple months, the rest gets a good shake test every once and a while. I mostly just don't want to be "that guy" who gets towed in because of loose hardware.

 

[Frosty]

when I break it

 

[brapperdoodle]

After I rebuilt the 440, it had been ridden twice when my brother noticed the washers on each end of the cylinder head spinning. I was like, wtf are you talking about? Popped the hood and sure enough, the head bolts had all loosened up. I had totally forgotten to re-torque the head bolts after break in. I got curious and checked my Superjet... all the head bolts took a slight turn before reaching proper torque.

2nd scare was out riding surf at Hugo with Paul and crew. My ski felt like it was not running quite right, sometimes it would rip and then other times if felt sluggish. When we returned to the shore I popped my hood, 2 of my B-pipe bolts were completely loose and bouncing! The 3rd bolt was hanging on by a couple threads... nothing damaged but lesson learned! I usually put a wrench on stuff every month or so just to feel how tight it is. That could have sucked!

 

[Supra21]

I’m new so every ride

 

[CD155MX]

Speaking of hardware coming loose; has everyone seen the newer Orange threadlocker from permatex? Supposedly its good for high vibration and it holds like red, but comes loose like blue?

I just started using this on my ski in many places I'd normally use blue. Time will tell if that was a good or bad move.

 

[Citizen]

I wiggle everything i can get my hands on prior to each days riding, and i still lose pump bolts etc here and there. That orange stuff looks interesting @CD155MX I will have to pick some up.

 

[G-Body]

I don't tend to check the fasteners much. However I'm a big fan of safety wire and threadlocker.

 

[Quinc]

Word of Advice:

This High Strength Thread Lockers are relatively expensive and popular so some Dirtbag Mechanics are buying these, taking all the Liquid Threadlock out, neatly re-packaging the Bottle and returning it to the Auto Parts Store for a full Refund. The Store Clerk can't tell it's been opened or empty, issues a refund and PUTS IT BACK ON THE SHELF.

I got burned because of this. Got up early on a Sunday Morning to work on a Jetski with damaged Crank Snout Threads, hence the High Strength Loctite, and nothing came out of the brand new Bottle I paid $30 bucks for. Son of a Biden!

Went back to O'Reilley's for an Exchange and turns out that the remaining five Bottles and Tubes of the High Strength Thread Locker on the Shelf were EMPTY...

All looked like the Packaging was Brand New but on a couple the Seal Job wasn't so good. Got my Refund and went to Ace Hardware where they keep this Stuff under Lock and are more wary of these kind of Returns.

Went thru the same crap at Northern Tools with some Trailer Bearing Hub Kits. Dirtbags are pulling the New Bearings out of the Package and putting their rotten Bearings back in, going back to the Store and getting a Refund. And the Clerk puts it BACK ON THE SHELF.

Every one of the Hub Bearing Kits I examined from the Shelf had been tampered with. These Bearings come packed with Grease from the Factory so it's not easy to see you got some Skank Bearings. Special Ordered from the Warehouse in my Name to be released only to me and finally got a Brand New Kit with New Bearings.

If you know anybody who pulls this kind of crap, tell them that they are causing harm to other People, not just the Store.

I have heard similar stories from people that bought oil at walmart.

 

[Vumad]

I am impressed by the number of people who's skis run long enough for the hardware to come loose.

 

[Snowmobiler]

10-12 times per day minimum. The amount has decreased slightly with age.?.?.?


On a serious note, being that I don't ride in an endless unpredictable man eating sea. I check over all components annually.

Most of my riding spots I can simply holler over to a random MN nice feller and get a Busch lite and a tow. All while casually floating on my back soaking up the sun in the calm fresh water.

I unfortunately do seem to like to do bigger projects on my ski during the riding season rather than the 8 months of off season. So most summers it gets a thorough checking out 2+ times per year.