What are those yellow things on lorry/bus wheel nuts?

[erdnase]

I've wondered for quite a while about these. They're the little yellow things - shaped a bit like arrows - on the wheel nuts of lorries and buses, etc. The best explanation I can come up with is that they're to make it obvious if a nut comes loose, and then the arrows won't point to each other, as they seem to do.

I'll try to find a picture of what I'm talking about!

[lordlee]

You answered your own question - its so they can tell if they are loose...

[Shinysideup]

I assume they will show if any nuts are loose without having to check each one with a wrench?

[thunderbelmont]

Simples: they point at each other, or to the centre of the wheel. If one has moved, then the nut is obviously coming loose. It's a phenomenon on trucks and large vehicles, and drivers are expected to check their nuts regularly (daily!!). The yellow pointers were a simple solution to allow a quick visual check.

[erdnase]

I couldn't find any pictures of wheels with them, but it seems they're called Checkpoints.

Thanks for the answers - that was quick!

[erdnase]

thunderbelmont said:

..drivers are expected to check their nuts regularly (daily!!).

Fnar fnar!

[Carfiend]

Testicular Cancer is nothing to be sniffed at. You have to give you balls a proper rubbing to find out if you have it.

[lordlee]

You answered your own question - its so they can tell if they are loose...

[PHmember]

lordlee said:

You answered your own question - its so they can tell if they are loose...

Have you just had a blackout?

[UncappedTag]

ha funny I kicked one across the road yesterday and wondered what it was!