So, this is something I started doing after seeing a mechanic do it, and I wanted to know who else does this.

What you do, is take nail polish in any color you have access to, and you make a tiny dot on the head of a bolt or nut. You can either dot the bolt and something next to it, or just have a rule. For me, I always dot bolts in the 12-o-clock position.

The nail polish rubs off with just a fingernail from basically any bolt, nut, or the frame, but it won't come off until you rub it off.

If you look at my bike, you can see the tiny dark purple dots on damn near all the important bolts and nuts, but if I look at my bike up close, I can visually inspect almost the entire bike in about 2 minutes and see if *anything* is loosening up.

I'm kinda OCD about setting torque properly, and using the right locktite or anti seize, but marking the important bolts on my bike has really given me peace of mind.

Anyone else do this? Try it, it all comes off easily if you hate it.

Just don't tell your old lady you are taking her nail polish to paint your bike.

 

I have a wax pencil for this

 

Good to know.

I was skeptical of using nail polish but no ****, it will chip off with your nail, but its hard to rub it off with your finger or anything that isn't super abrasive.

 

Thanks for the tip. Never thought of it before.

 

Very common in industry. Most new cars come with various marks all over to make sure nothing loosened from supplier to assembly plant.

I don't do it because it's generally not an issue for me, but it's definitely a quick and easy way to make sure they don't come loose.

If you're really adamant about it, you could always safety wire the important stuff.

 

I think the only nut that's coming loose is the one on your shoulders.

 

I mark the front axle nut, so that I can see the mark while riding. I'm paranoid about the axle nut I guess.

 

I'm constantly being told that the nut is loose that holds the handlebars to the seat.

 

I use a Sharpie.

 

????? Naw...I try to go over the bike once a year and if anything is slightly loose i usually take it out and add loctite and put it back in torque properly but i only have done it twice in 6 years.