If the bolt has a right hand thread then you would remove the bolt by turning it counter clockwise correct?

Question

The reason I ask is the clerk at Home Depot told me all lawn tractors are left thread as the blades turn clockwise! I am so confused. Thanks for your replies if you could help me with this question as well I would appreciate it!

Answer 1

Normally it is righty tighty, lefty loosie! but for left hand threads it is the reverse.

Answer 2

left hand threads have a tick mark on the corners of the sides of the bolt/nut to identify them as left thread its so that the spinning of the blades tightens rather than untourqes them

Answer 3

As others have mentioned, right hand thread is clockwise to tighten, anticlockwise to loosen.  Left hand thread is the opposite.

Most lawnmowers use left hand threaded bolts.

If you need left hand threaded bolts, then maybe try

http://www.gartoninternational.com/

They're a useful source - I've had loads of weird and wonderful bolts and nuts from them over the years.

Answer 4

the clerk is right the theads on your lawnmower that hold the blade in place are left handed so that if the blades hit something they will not loosen off that is the reason for those bolts to be different

Answer 5

I'm dyslexic, and have enough problem recalling "righty-tighty and lefty-loosy."  But my guess in right thread means the ones you turn right to tighten down (which is almost all, excepting those for special applications).  So - maybe lawn tractors are among the rare exceptions.  

Why are you even talking about lawn tractors?  Is that what you are working on?  A reason to reverse-thread would be to counter momentum (the chance that rattle would work the bolt loose).  I would think that would be the only time you would have exceptions, unless someone was using up cheap leftover/misdesigned parts that no on else wanted.

Take your courage in your hands and go ask the guy at Home Depot exactly which bolts are left thread.  (I googled "left thread" and Wikipedia was the first answer - see that if my explanation isn't clear.)

Answer 6

Clerk is wrong. Not all lawn mowers are the same.

Answer 7

On some items left hand threads are used for rotating equipment so the item does not loosen when operating.  In the late 40's and early 50's Chrysler vehicles had left threads on the passenger side of the vehicles. Some drill motors have left threads in the chuck s***w. Also some lawn mowers have left threads on the retaining s***w.  I would not think "ALL" have them.  

Answer 8

That is correct.  Righty tighty lefty loosey.