Posted by Alan Bowes on October 14, 1998 at 12:19:46:
In Reply to: REPLACING OLD NUTS & BOLTS posted by Galen on October 14, 1998 at 06:30:45:
If the "squarish flat washers" are like the ones on an M37, they're called "toothed periphery washers." They are still available from larger fastener houses in SOME sizes. However, most of them (on the M37 at least) were captive washers and if you try to push a new bolt through a new toothed periphery washer of the original size, it might end up scoring the threads. A workaround is to enlarge the washers' ID just a bit with a Dremel tool or something along that line.
I ordered a bunch of these washers about a year ago, but I can't recall the supplier's name. They were located in New York. If I can find the invoice, I'll let you know.
These are NOT cheap washers, so be prepared to spend a few bucks.
By the way, you can glass-bead blast the old bolts and have them plated (together with the washers if you want). Remember that if you have any hardened bolts zinc iridite plated, the plating shop must bake them immediately after plating to avoid problems from hydrogen embrittlement. The harder the steel, the greater the risk of hydrogen embrittlement. Another alternative is tin-zinc plating, which I believe reduces the possibility of hydrogen embrittlement, but check to be sure. Also, I don't know how well tin-zinc plating will hold paint. Zinc iridite is pretty good for paint adhesion. When in doubt, have the plater bake the parts. It doesn't cost that much extra.
Have fun,
Alan