Star washers should be used to "cut thru paint" etc --- rather than a "split ring washer" that is used to keep a bolt/nut from backing off....
They should also be used to keep two pieces from rotating - so put between say a leg of a table and it's base - it would help to keep the leg from moving.
As such -- a STAR washer should be used between the electrical connector and the body to which it's being attached. Or between two parts that you want to keep from moving. Used that way - the star washer will cut into the metal and make a good connection. Or cut into to two surfaces and provide "grip". Once used - they should be tossed and a new one used because they flatten and loose their cutting ability.
I sound like mister washer expert the way I wrote the above but it's hard to explain it any other way. And here's the weird part -- I can't even remember why I know this stuff in the first place!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
What I'd like to figure out is why some star washers have the "star" on the outside edge vs the inside!! And my only conclusion is "surface area"?? Therefor holding ability??
So glad you found this problem Dale! I use the back of SBC heads for a ground source and the blind holes in some of them are quite shallow -- so I too have had to shorten a bolt in order to not bottom it out. That and it makes it easier to install and remove when it's so tight to the firewall in some applications.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
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