Snubber bolts

[Marty Murphy]

Why do I keep breaking snubber bolts? I am using 1/4-20x1 grade 8 bolts with a washer under the head and using flange nuts on the bottoms. I have the rubber spacers/pads in place too, yet I seems to break 3 or 4 every week. The bolts are grade 9 bolts, although they are the "import" bolts, not domestic bolts.

Marty - Pro Bowl West

[Popeye]

I used to have this problem also. Drill your holes out to 5/16 and put the bigger bolts in. I did this years ago and have not had much problem since. I would stay with the grade 8 bolts.

[Roscoe]

Marty:
I believe the word "import" is the crux of your problem. Grade eights USA seldom fail.

[Marty Murphy]

Marty:
I believe the word "import" is the crux of your problem. Grade eights USA seldom fail.

I was thinking the same thing - I think I am going to buy some from Grainger, "unbreako" is the brand name...along with the brand name price

Marty - Pro Bowl West

[Mechanick]

I had the same problem and did the same thing as popeye 5 yrs ago and have never broken a bolt since (or loose hardware)........and no broken snubbers either. Thart was a concern about making the slot bigger, but I havn't broken one yet.

[SoCalTom]

I, too, have made the switch to domestic grade 8 bolts, and haven't had any problems. Yes, they're a little more expensive; however, with the savings over ordinary bolts, the savings will pay off over a period of time. And, they'll save your bacon during a tourney or important league meeting.

[rivmike]

On AMF we need to go from 1/4 to 5/16 to get durability, I think you guys are right, not made like they use to be.

[Mechanick]

If the domestic 1/4" or some other 1/4" hardware will work without breaking....then that is the easier fix and try that route first. I remeber seeing some special bolts at a center that closed down that had a special logo on the top of them and said super titanium on the top of them. I did not know where to get them.


If you are still having issues you can always change to 5/16" gr 8....no problems after that, but a little work is involved

[bowlamech]

I was buying a golden colored 1/4 20 bolt years ago supposedly grade eight was a cheap fake frum true value hardware store ..broke so many in a week couldnt keep count.i think quality at one time made a snubber already cut out for 5/16 size bolts dont think anyone else does now

[brentman1]

Quite a few years ago i reamed out snubbers and drilled and installed grade 8's in 2 houses, 28 lanes total and i only know of 1 bolt that has broken in that time, probably 15 yrs or so.

[Marty Murphy]

I was buying a golden colored 1/4 20 bolt years ago supposedly grade eight was a cheap fake

Thats is exactly what I have. When I got here they all had 1/4 carrage bolts in them that were breaking left and right so I went to these grade 8 that I now know are imported bolts (like $4 per 100)
Going to call the girl up and she what she will do about it.

Marty - Pro Bowl West

[SoCalTom]

Imported grade 8s and domestic grade 8s are two different animals. I have found that the imported grade 8s equal our standard (no-grade) bolts. I believe that it's how the bolts are heat treated. In any case, the imports don't measure up to our domestic bolts. Just because a bolt is less expensive doesn't make it a better product. (Basically, you get what you pay for.)

[bubbers]

Mechanick, Those special bolts you are talking about are probably Lawson products "supertanium" line of fasteners. I have used them in the past with great success. The only catch is they are "superpricey". www.lawsonproducts.com

[Mechanick]

I believe that they mah vae been from that company....they had a pentagon with lines around it and the word supertitanium on the head


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[jim_long]

This is funny, when I started I had problems with the Brunswick grade 8's breaking. I replaced them all with grade 2-3's carriage bolts and for the next 20 years never had another one break.

Of course, I named my machines after women..........