When to use loctite

[Sphinx]

In a similar vein to my 'torque settings' thread I was wondering about thread locking compounds/liquids like loctite.
What are the general rules for when to use this? what sort of components etc?

Thanks

 

[rtbcomp]

I tend to use it on parallel pipe threads and where studs are screwed into castings.

 

[tigler]

Safety related fasteners and anything likely to vibrate loose.

 

[graffian]

Safety related fasteners and anything likely to vibrate loose.

Over the years I have seen all sorts of stuff vibrate loose, once had a float bowl drop off my Norton;-)

 

[brightspark]

Over the years I have seen all sorts of stuff vibrate loose, once had a float bowl drop off my Norton;-)

were u sat at the traffic lights on tickover that would do ya false teeth the world of good

 

[Garreth]

We call it "liquid engineering" at work !

Bear in mind you can get all grades of Loctite (or equivalents) from Screwlock (light strength) to Retainer (high strenth). Plus different resistances to heat, oil etc. I've got a box with about 15 different bottles in !

If in doubt always use some screwlock on everything. It doesn't take much breaking when you come to remove it, but stops things vibrating loose. Obviously unless specified otherwise - due to specific torque ratings etc etc. As with all things its horses for courses ! I've just built an engine and used Nordlock washers, Loctite and wire locking on some critical'ish fasteners (core plug retainers etc) - but the ARP rod builts are stretched to length with moly lube and no other retaining compound on a rod revving to 9750 rpm !

Garreth

 

[graffian]

were u sat at the traffic lights on tickover that would do ya false teeth the world of good

Caning it along the bypass thru Whyleaf, suddenly it started to miss a bit and I got a wet leg!
Use a lot of loctite now.

 

[MrFluffy]

And when youve finished putting loctite on everything, its worth knowing you can kill the bond by heating the part to a dull red then striking the head with something.

 

[the snooper]

And when youve finished putting loctite on everything, its worth knowing you can kill the bond by heating the part to a dull red then striking the head with something.

i tried that a few times bolt dull red but just kept getting a head ache and lump everytime

 

[mike os]

I would extend That to include anything difficult to get at later or that drops off regularly

 

[pedrobedro]

Good advice from all. I tend to use it wherever I don't want things to come undone but I don't use the more permanent type unless in high stress areas like propshaft or flywheel bolts.

 

[tigler]

Over the years I have seen all sorts of stuff vibrate loose, once had a float bowl drop off my Norton;-)

Was coming back from Croydon to Leeds once on the M1, on my first Brit bike, a '69 Bonny. I had been royally ripped off with this bike, it was a shed, but I was young and naive !!
The rain was biblical and I noticed there was a misfire occasionally when I tried to overtake. Then suddenly when overtaking in the outside lane the thing just totally cut out
Without mirrors and not even a lifesaver I just swept it over to the hard shoulder thinking to myself 'I don't think there was anything behind me'
Arrived at the hard shoulder amidst a symphony of car horns and the sound of skidding tyres, ticked off one of my lives and sat trembling on a silent heap in the monsoon !
Eventually got off to locate the problem. The nearside toolbox side cover had disappeared which allowed all the earths for the whole bike to fall free because the clown of a previous owner had just wrapped them around the side cover screw knob, clamping them between the cover and the frame !!
Managed to bodge and finish the journey after one more stop to drain the float bowls of water !!
Fully restored that Bonny to concourse and sold it to buy a bladdy Honda , arrrrgh !!

 

[candygt]

Id agree with the notion of using loctite on everything and everything.

For car repair its especially easy.. if the previous bolt had loctite or a nylock nut then give it a good coating before replacing. Im far too lazy and just tend to dip bolts into the pot without really looking.

 

[mike os]

tbh... i tend to do the same... unless a torque wrench is required......

 

[pidgeon chit welder]

Now that we are having British Standard Chinese instead of British Standard Japanese using some sort of locking compound is becoming necessary due to the poor thread pitches and angles.
Just make sure that the threads are clean of oil and crud before you use the compound .

 

[graffian]

I saw a post somewhere about a special offer, heinkel[?] were/are
giving away bottles of 270, saw it the day after I bought a 50ml bottle;-)

 

[Sphinx]

Very interesting opinions here, some contrasting ones too lol