So apparently one of the locknuts on the suntour barcons i installed loosened up and liberated itself from my bike recently. Luckily, I had another spare set I pulled one from.

Does anyone have tips for preventing this in the future? Just check them every week or so for tightness?

Anybody have tips for actually tightening them? With the screw sticking through the middle it gets difficult to tighten them with a regular flathead screwdriver after a certain point, I've had to use a smaller one to only fit half the head and I've already chewed part of one up trying that out.

I thought about getting a cheap flat screwdriver and notching the blade with a Dremel to make a "tool". Haven't done it yet though...

Like a $0.99 screwdriver at Harbor Freight or Northern Tool...

You can buy a cheap, soft screwdriver and notch it with a dremel or hand file but your small screwdriver should do the trick because you apply the torque from the other side with a driver on the slotted bolt.

A dab of blue locktite will keep the nut in place for a few years until the cables need replacing.

edit...Khatful beat me too it...

Thanks guys, I might try rigging up a tool at some point. I guess I was tightening them wrong, I assumed that the cap was a locknut and you were supposed to tighten the screw to the inner nut and then just tighten up the locknut to keep it from loosening. I'll try clubman's method or try to pick up some blue locktite for next time I need to adjust them.

Reminds me I should check mine too....and I have blue Loctite

you can use a chainring wrench too. I have a notched screwdriver tip for this, and to hold seat binder nuts too.

I've put hundreds of miles on my bike that has a barcon without the lock nut. I've had no trouble.

I use blue loctite, and an adjustable pin wrench. But I too have ridden many miles with the lock nut missing.

Aaron