I can’t tighten my hardware. Is it faulty?

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No, the hardware is not faulty. Lifetime Products uses center lock nuts on its basketball systems. Center lock nuts are distorted in the middle so that the threads are no longer perfectly circular. This greatly increases the locking action of the nut but increases the amount of force required to tighten the nut.  If having difficulty fully tightening, use longer wrenches which provide more torque.