The Worlds Best Locking Fastener

Since 1985
LOCKING FASTENER PRODUCTS FOR
RAILROAD INDUSTRY APPLICATIONS
Stage 8 Railroad Product Line
Cap Screw Locking System for Roller Bearings
Long Travel Constant Contact Side Bearing Locking Systems
Safety Appliance Locking Systems
Deck Bolts
Locomotive Applications
Traction Motor Gear Case Locking Bolts
Air Horn Locking Systems
Exhaust Port and Fuel Injector Locking Systems
Track Nuts and Hot Box Detector Locking Systems
Other Products in Development
Stage 8 locking fastener technology has been proven over 25 years of service in a
variety of industry applications, including automotive, heavy equipment, military,
and railroad applications. We have developed new lines of locking systems
applications for railroad equipment, based on the experience of our personnel with
extensive railroad industry backgrounds. And we are re-introducing legacy products
that have been in railroad service for many years.
Cap Screw Locking System
The Stage 8 Cap Screw Locking System represents a major improvement in roller
bearing retention, promising maintenance cost reduction and improved equipment
availability. The patented design provides over 10 times the torque resistance to
cap screw loosening rotation, compared to the standard locking plate. Roller
bearing cap screws can lose a significant amount of preload with only a few
degrees of loosening. The Stage 8 locking system is designed to prevent even a
single degree of loosening rotation.

Cap Screw Locking System
The goal of the locking system is to maintain
the bearing's lateral clamp load at a very high
percentage of the original target preload,
after embedding and relaxation of the cap
screw joint. Maintaining high clamp load is
the key to prevention of fretting, spun cones,
and loose backing rings.
The basis of the high torque strength of the
Stage 8 locking system is that the three bend-
over tabs resist loosening rotation in shear,
rather than in bending. This provides a
substantial increase in torque resistance that
will prevent even a single degree of loosening
rotation.
The Stage 8 Cap Screw Locking
System will be undergoing field
testing as required by the AAR
WABL Committee in 2010.
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(Chart values are projected results based on industry experience.)
Body Side Bearing Locking Systems
The issue of loosening body side bearing fasteners,
especially in double stack equipment, has been in
the news recently. Stage 8 has adapted one of our most basic designs, the abutment
locking retainer, to solve this dilemma. Our locking system can adapt to a wide range
of body side bearing configurations. The AAR Equipment Engineering Committee will
review our request for waiver from the S-235 requirement for tack welding the nut to
the bolt threads. If granted, that would allow the removal of the locking assembly
components without having to torch or cut. This is especially important in double stack
equipment, where body side bearing wedges must frequently be re-shimmed to
account for wear in the articulated connector. All components can be re-used.
Body Side Bearing Locking
Fastener Assembly
Square Neck Plow Bolt,
Locking Retainer, E-Clip,
and Grooved Nut
Constant Contact Side Bearings
The long travel constant contact side bearings, now mandatory, are designed to stabilize truck
hunting through increased friction between truck and car body, without compromising curve
negotiation. This also means increased dynamic loads on the fasteners, and loose side
bearing fasteners are an inevitable, costly set out. The Stage 8 Side Bearing Locking System
provides resistance from loosening by locking both the bolt hex head AND the nut / weld tab,
preventing a single degree of loosening rotation. The Stage 8 Locking System greatly exceeds
CCSB manufacturer and AAR M-948 requirements for bolted fasteners to be Grade 5 or better,
and "require some means to inhibit loosening".
Locking Retainer
& Snap Ring
Top View of Long Travel CCSB Inside Truck Bolster - Weld Tabs
Safety Appliance Locking Systems
Fleet owners are noticing increasing
costs from loose fasteners on safety
appliances. FRA Safety Appliance
Standards are more focused on
preventing fastener components from
"becoming insecure" than preventing
loss of fastener preload.
The pre-assembled retainer tab is designed to engage the vertical portion of the running
board support even when positioned at the end of the slot. A sufficient amount of bolt length
is provided so that the threaded portion can be chisel checked or thread welded to
comply with FRA MP&E 98-14. But this compliance will not be an issue
because these locking systems will not come loose.
Top View Running Board Flange
Bottom View Running Board Support
Displayed is the Stage 8 approach to
the nagging problem of loose running
board fasteners. The flanged bolt and
retainer tab is pre-assembled, so it
can be fed up through the running
board support. Then the nut is run
down from the top, and torqued to
spec. Finally, the locking retainer is
applied and secured with the e-clip.
Safety Appliance Locking Systems
Stage 8 has adopted 2 approaches
to grab iron fasteners. Displayed is
the counter bore application for new
equipment applications, where the
grab iron bolt hole can be modified
to accept the grooved bolt, retainer,
and clip locking system. This
application has been used
extensively in military applications
for securing up-armored door
systems in personnel transports.
The second approach is being
developed for maintenance shop
repair, where a retainer tab will abut
against the grab iron, requiring no
modification to the bolt hole.
Existing swage / rivet type fasteners, or even chisel checked / welded thread configurations,
must be burned or cut off before replacing. Stage 8 locking systems can be easily removed
with the added benefit of providing visual feedback to fastener integrity.
Deck Bolts
A simple modification to the angle clip and nut incorporates the Stage 8 counter bore locking
system into the standard deck bolt assembly. When standard deck bolts become loose, open
top loads on flatcars can shift, resulting in costly set outs to re-stabilize the lading. As with all
Stage 8 locking fasteners, the entire system can be easily disassembled if necessary and all
components reused.
Air Horn Locking Systems
Locomotive air horns can cost as much as $4,000 and have been a theft target, especially for
locomotives in storage. The Stage 8 locking system can be configured to be either "very difficult"
or "impossible" to remove in the field, depending on the type of snap ring applied. The counter
bore locking retainer is positioned high enough on the bolt head to prevent any socket from
getting enough engagement on the bolt head to allow application of reverse torque. The counter
bore block is hardened to resist portable cutting wheels. The added benefit is that the Stage 8
Counter Bore locking system will remain tight and not require re-torquing.
Traction Motor Gear Case Bolts
Experienced locomotive maintenance technicians will advise that loose traction motor gear
case bolts are a frequent and costly problem. Stage 8 has been providing gear case locking
bolt systems for AMTRAK GE locomotives for over 12 years, without a single report of failure.
This is a typical application of Stage 8 technology that improves equipment life cycle costs.
Traction Motor Gear Case Bolts
Other Locomotive Applications
Gear Case Clamps
Exhaust Ports
Fuel Nozzles
Stage 8 locking fastener technology is easily adaptable to a wide range of
locomotive applications, and provides the most reliable method of dealing
with the high vibration and thermal cycle environment of critical
components.
Other Locomotive Applications
Track Nuts
Stage 8 track nuts eliminate the need to re-tighten critical track fasteners. Frogs,
Diamonds, Crossovers, Guard Rails and Rail Joints all benefit from the major
improvement in fastener integrity. All elements of the locking system can be
instantly inspected visually, and as with all Stage 8 locking fasteners, the entire
system can be easily disassembled if necessary and all components reused.
Stage 8 Designs Solutions
Please Give Us The Opportunity To Solve
Your Most Troublesome Fastener Problems
Stage 8 Designs Solutions
For additional information please contact:
Robert J. Ahern
Director
Stage 8 Locking Fasteners, Inc.
415-485-5340 or 800-843-7836
Robert@Stage8.com