Bert's Custom Tackle

[fishreed]

Did the screws fracture at the base of the tapered head? Typically that would be from loosing the clamp load ( not being tight, also a shear condition). Just so you know, S.S. is softer than most grade bolts and subject to fracturing. Typically S.S. is never hardened, not sure they even can. I've never been able to harden stainless. I know they would rust but if you replaced them with grade 8 screws, they would most likely never facture again. Paint the head of the screws after installing, put regular oil on the threads before installing will help stop that corrosion.
Thanks for letting guys know to check theirs!

After spending 20 years before I retired in the metallurgical test and manufacturing industry as a 8 State Field Engineer and Adjunct Professor who has taught Metallurgical Test Methods at 7 major Universities in the Midwest with a well known major employer who manufactures computer Rockwell and Tensile testing equipment, let me educate you guys on stainless steel bolt and nut fatigue. Stainless steel is an alloy of Nickel and Chrome. Chrome is used for surface brightness such as kitchen sinks and nickel is used for strength. Most stainless steel bolts and nuts approach Rockwell C 55-58 and that my fishing friends makes them VERY susceptible to breaking because they HARD NOT Soft. One has to be very careful from over torquing when using Nylock nuts to prevent Gauling /cold welding stainless nuts on stainless bolts because they will gall themselves together as you will snap them due to over torquing off if you try to remove them. I suggest a minimum 1/4-20 stainless bolts and nylock nuts with a SUPER light film of Super Lube synthetic grease with PTFE to be used on all base mounted rods holders and track systems using these nylock stainless nuts and bolts with backer stainless washers on rail Sisco and Traxtech as it will be more than sufficient unless you are pull out big tree stumps. Stainless Steel Nuts and bolts are HARD NOT SOFT metallurgically speaking as this makes them very suspectable to torque breaking and cold welding/galling to the screw. Oil will not do the job as compared to Super Lube Synthetic grease with PTFE/Teflon additives as I have used this synthetic grease for well over 15 years in the repairing, upgrading, and maintenance for 50 years of every fishing reel known to mankind. Class Dismissed.