The technique for securing bolts and other parts using a lockwire method is to drill a small hole into the head of a bolt, insert the twisted wire into the drilled hole and attached it to another part or bolt drilled in a similar way. This method will not halt a part from loosening due to a small loss in tension, instead, it is designed to stop the loss of a part of the head of a bolt when it is sheared off. Specialized pliers help make this type of installation easier, or you can use a pair of long nosed pliers to guide the wire through the drilled holes in the parts.
The single wire lockwire method requires the use of a single piece of wire, and the most common size for this wire is 0.32 inches in diameter, Byron Bay Gliding Club reports. The use of single lockwire methods is commonly used in small area installations, such as in an airplane electrical system where space is at a premium, and connections are often made in bolt patterns, such as a square, triangle or rectangle.
The double wire method is commonly used for this type of connection requires two wires to be twisted together to create a double locked wire system. In lockwire applications a twist is regarded as a 180-degree turn of the wires to create a system that will hold the part in place even when it has loosened over time or through damage.
A lockwire installation should not be overtightened with a force that will cause the bolt to be moved out of alignment. The use of a lockwire should not increase the amount of chafing, additional tension or fatigue caused by vibration in the application. The only allowable tension in the application is that applied to hold the parts in place.
