Nord-lock washers - where to buy in Toronto?

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NuggyBuggy

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I've got this mirror that keeps coming loose from its perch pretty much every day. I've tried blue threadlocker, split lock washers and both together - no joy.

I wanted to try some Nord-lock washers, but I can't find anywhere to buy them. Amazon only has them in larger quantities; Brafasco won't sell to me as I don't have a business.

I bought these on Amazon as they were advertised as "wedge-lock washers", and I hoped they just weren't showing the wedge side, but they're completely different and I'm skeptical they'll work.

Screenshot 2026-06-24 at 4.32.48 PM.png


Amazon sells closer clones but now I just want to go straight to a name-brand solution of known quality. Anyone know where I could source two matching pairs of 8mm Nord-locks ?
 
Thanks! ChatGPT struck out on that one - said something like "Surprisingly, these washers are very hard to find in Canada in small quantities", , but it also says Bolts Plus sells to retail. I'll give em a call tomorrow.
 
Soulcatcher668 said:
If you are stuck, I order from McMasterCarr several times a week at work.

I can pull them from there for you.
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That's very kind of you - where are you at?

Interestingly, I was driving by a Brafasco/Whitecap and went in. The guy at the counter said they DO sell to regular joes like me.- no business needed.

I had called another Brafasco the day before and they said I needed a business for them to sell to. I don't get why different stores would have different policies.

Unfortunately, this Brafasco didn't have what I'm looking for. His computer said nobody in the GTA stocks them, and cost to order in would be prohibitive. The closest store that stocks them is in Orillia. What's up with that I wonder?
 
Blue Loctite is meant to be used on bolts that need to be removed.
You need the Big Boy stuff Loctite 263 but you may have to go to an industrial supply house like Aukland Granger.
Your split lock washer should peel metal when the lock nut is backed up or your using a shite washer.
Make sure the threads in the perch are not close to being stripped.
If you screw in the mirror 5 or 6 heads it should not wobble.
 
NuggyBuggy said:
That's very kind of you - where are you at?

Interestingly, I was driving by a Brafasco/Whitecap and went in. The guy at the counter said they DO sell to regular joes like me.- no business needed.

I had called another Brafasco the day before and they said I needed a business for them to sell to. I don't get why different stores would have different policies.

Unfortunately, this Brafasco didn't have what I'm looking for. His computer said nobody in the GTA stocks them, and cost to order in would be prohibitive. The closest store that stocks them is in Orillia. What's up with that I wonder?
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I am in Mississauga. Let me know what you need and we can work out a meet..... always up for a ride.
 
NuggyBuggy said:
I've got this mirror that keeps coming loose from its perch pretty much every day. I've tried blue threadlocker, split lock washers and both together - no joy.

I wanted to try some Nord-lock washers, but I can't find anywhere to buy them. Amazon only has them in larger quantities; Brafasco won't sell to me as I don't have a business.

I bought these on Amazon as they were advertised as "wedge-lock washers", and I hoped they just weren't showing the wedge side, but they're completely different and I'm skeptical they'll work.

View attachment 79183


Amazon sells closer clones but now I just want to go straight to a name-brand solution of known quality. Anyone know where I could source two matching pairs of 8mm Nord-locks ?
Click to expand...
Add a nylock nut on the threaded part of your mirror. Spin the mirror in, then tension the threads with the nylock.

It won’t move.
 
Interest
Mad Mike said:
Add a nylock nut on the threaded part of your mirror. Spin the mirror in, then tension the threads with the nylock.

It won’t move
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I've got to give this a shot. I've been poring through dozens of threads for three weeks and I didn't see anyone suggest this until you and someone else last night.

Mine doesn't have the typical two nut setup, just a long collar that the mirror threads through, and a jam nut at the top of the collar. I think this should work though?

In this case, does orientation matter?
 
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NuggyBuggy said:
Interest


I've got to give this a shot. I've been poring through dozens of threads for three weeks and I didn't see anyone suggest this until you and someone else last night.

Mine doesn't have the typical two nut setup, just a long collar that the mirror threads through, and a jam nut at the top of the collar. I think this should work though?

In this case, does orientation matter?
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No. If you have a vibey bike, the nylock is best. If it’s not vibey, a regular thin jam it should be ok.
 
Mad Mike said:
No. If you have a vibey bike, the nylock is best. If it’s not vibey, a regular thin jam it should be ok.
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Thanks @Mad Mike. It's vibey.

As I think about it, I'm not sure I understand the mechanics here. This is what my mirror stem looks like. As I mentioned, It doesn't have the typical double nuts that lock against each other. There's a metal collar that the main stem threads through, with a nut that's part of the top part of the collar. You typically just spin the mirror on as close to position as you can, finalize position, then tighten the collar jam nut down. Both my mirrors are RH thread.
1782468735525.png

Do I basically do the above, except make a sandwich of the Nylock nut between the collar and the perch?

i.e., tighten the Nylock against the perch once it's in position first, and then tighten the jam nut/collar against the nut? If so, I assume the latter tightness isn't critical as the Nylock and its nylon insert are doing the work of keeping the mirror stud stable.

Is that right? I feel silly asking how to do this.

I wonder if adding a nut might leave not enough of the stud in the perch, but I understand there are low profile Nylocks which I could look for.
 
NuggyBuggy said:
Thanks @Mad Mike. It's vibey.

As I think about it, I'm not sure I understand the mechanics here. This is what my mirror stem looks like. As I mentioned, It doesn't have the typical double nuts that lock against each other. There's a metal collar that the main stem threads through, with a nut that's part of the top part of the collar. You typically just spin the mirror on as close to position as you can, finalize position, then tighten the collar jam nut down. Both my mirrors are RH thread.
View attachment 79223

Do I basically do the above, except make a sandwich of the Nylock nut between the collar and the perch?

i.e., tighten the Nylock against the perch once it's in position first, and then tighten the jam nut/collar against the nut? If so, I assume the latter tightness isn't critical as the Nylock and its nylon insert are doing the work of keeping the mirror stud stable.

Is that right? I feel silly asking how to do this.

I wonder if adding a nut might leave not enough of the stud in the perch, but I understand there are low profile Nylocks which I could look for.
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Have you tried orange thread locker stronger than blue but not as strong as red. Permatex 25236 Orange High Strength Removable Threadlocker, 36mL : Amazon.ca: Automotive https://share.google/ym5hTATO0OxT6fghG

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
 
If the mirror has 2 threaded parts (m8 to m10 adapter), you can score the m8 part with a punch to slightly damage the thread. Thread and tighten and that part should never come loose.

Thread the jam nut onto the part that goes into the perch, then thread the mirror onto the perch. Tighten the jam nut against the perch to put tension on the threads.

.
 
It’s all M8. Going to go to Home Depot or Canadian Tire and look for Nylocks.

Interestingly when I was at Brafasco they had a bunch of different sized quantities of LocTite, but only blue and red. I thought I had heard there was a purple that was intermediate but they didn’t have any there
 
NuggyBuggy said:
It’s all M8. Going to go to Home Depot or Canadian Tire and look for Nylocks.

Interestingly when I was at Brafasco they had a bunch of different sized quantities of LocTite, but only blue and red. I thought I had heard there was a purple that was intermediate but they didn’t have any there
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Purple is permatex below blue.
 
NuggyBuggy said:
It’s all M8. Going to go to Home Depot or Canadian Tire and look for Nylocks.

Interestingly when I was at Brafasco they had a bunch of different sized quantities of LocTite, but only blue and red. I thought I had heard there was a purple that was intermediate but they didn’t have any there
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Orange is the one you want

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk
 
Scuba Steve said:
Orange is the one you want
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Princess Auto, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Amazon, etc...

05156de2764f7d19f775b5e3305f308c.jpg


www.princessauto.com

Orange Hybrid Strength Threadlocker

This hybrid formula provides high strength for heavy duty applications. It can be removed with hand tools and does not require heating prior to removal.
www.princessauto.com www.princessauto.com

I've not used the orange; been using blue for years just about everywhere on my motorbikes, never a problem. Red is used in rare instances. Just a drop is all you need.

And guys, please! If you're using thread locker on frequently removed fasteners, take a moment and clean the threads each time. Use a thread chaser on internal/female threads, and a thread chaser or a wire wheel or brush on external/male threads. A quick burst of compressed air is recommended for the internal threads.

In any case, I don't think you need a thread locker in your situation. By its very nature, there's no way a jam nut should come loose, though I don't suppose its use would be detrimental. And a nylon lock nut is simply not suitable for this application.
 
Jayell said:
In any case, I don't think you need a thread locker in your situation. By its very nature, there's no way a jam nut should come loose, though I don't suppose its use would be detrimental. And a nylon lock nut is simply not suitable for this application.
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I don't know what I need, but I can tell you that these things keep coming loose. There's only one way to tighten these mirrors.

I tried the Nylock. It didn't leave nearly enough threads in the perch. Didn't take long before it loosened enough that the thing was about to fall out.

I considered that maybe the threads are stripped, but everything threads on smoothly and I can get it nice and tight when initially tightening that nut. Until the riding starts. Sometimes it last a while, sometimes it takes just a few minutes.

I started wondering whether my thread locker (blue) had gone bad. It wasn't coming out the solid, opaque blue I remembered, but looked watery. ChatGPT (which I'm trusting less and less) said that suggests it has separated. It also advised that I don't want to keep the stuff anywhere warm - and I'd say the storage compartment under my seat gets pretty warm.

But I didn't want to bother messing around with another tube of blue, so I bought the orange stuff at Home Depot on Sunday. This stuff also comes out of the tube watery looking - not a solid, opaque appearance - but I've never used the stuff so no idea if that's normal.

Put it on in the parking lot, it held through about 3-4 hours of riding. That's better than I normally get. When I got home I pulled the mirror out, cleaned the threads on mirror and perch with rubbing alcohol (no acetone or brake cleaner at the city home) and then put the orange stuff back on and reinstalled to let it really get a chance to cure. Haven't ridden since then.

I also did buy 2 pair of Nord-locks at the Orillia Brafasco, which apparently is the only place that had them within 200km of Toronto. Weird. They had no idea why another Brafasco told me they wouldn't sell without a business. Also weird.

If my latest attempt and the Nord-locks don't work, I'll try a different pair of mirrors I had stashed up north- I sometimes get free ones from Amazon. Asked ChatGPT to show me what they might look on the scooter - if it's close, they don't look bad. Although I hope that's not what they look like from the rear view. LOL.

c77ea4cc-3951-468c-87c7-0c00779d4bc2-2.jpg
 
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