No Dave,

it is a sealing washer. I doesn't prevent you from stripping the threads.

BTW, one can find 3 kinds of washer down there 1. a crushable copper washer, a non-crushable copper washer, and sometimes a nylon (or other plastic) washer.

alistair

On 2013-07-10, at 6:06 AM, Dave Mcneely wrote:

> 
> 
> well, this is steel into aluminum.  but i don't use a torque wrench, either.  just tighten till stops, then quarter turn, just enough to crush the washer slightly.  that's what that washer is for, to take that force to keep it from damaging the threads.