Regular hex nut vs square nut for winch mounting hardware

Is it ok to still use hex nut vs square nut for warn mounting hardware if still grade 8.8 and M10x30??

 

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Is it a captured nut? Aka doesn't it hope itself in place while the bolt it tightened, or do you put a wrench on the nut?

Might want square nuts if captured

 

Here

 

square will tighten up better
hex will probably round over

 

If thread engagement and bolt grade are the same, I don’t see why you can’t?
The square nut likely helped keep it from spinning when the bolt was being tightened.

How would I tighten the 6 point nut?
Jam a flat blade screwdriver in the gap and crank her down.
That said, I am not always right. And I don’t always do things right.

 

May be wrong, but most square nuts are probably not the same SAE grade equivalent as a 6 pt nut. Just something to keep in mind if it will see decent load.

 

The warn manual only calls for M10x30 minimum 8.8 grade studs mounting bottom studs for warn evo 10s. So I at least match those specs except for the nut being hex instead of square. After a million trips to Lowe’s , Home Depot , tractor supply, hardware stores, I gave in on finding a square nut so I used to hex instead.

I just installed it and I realized it may be to help it stay in place as the hex was very difficult to line up until the stud caught the threads during tightening.

 

I believe this was the purpose of the square nut but I couldn’t find it anywhere local

 

I believe you are correct as that’s exactly what I did to stop the hex from spinning and I believe that’s what the square nuts purpose is since the specs are the same as what the warn manual calls for M10x30 8.8 grade

 

Yes it was a little bit of a pain having the hex nut in place while trying to catch a thread , I honestly believe the square nuts purpose is so it doesn’t spin while your tightening but it did end up engaging and I was able to tighten the hell out of the stud

 

What is easier to tighten, and stay tight in a confined space? A square nut.
What is stronger? A hex nut.

Why not weld the two together and get the benefits of both?

 

as long as they are rated the same should be fine. the square nut is likely just for fitting that nut in the framework.