Locktite Question

[warrior]

Do you have to reply locktite everytime you take a bolt out? Or is like a one time thing? Thanks Guys!

[yogie]

I think you should re-apply the locktite when you pull a bolt out and put it back in. You break the bond when you unscrew it, and it needs a fresh anaerobic reaction to bond properly again.

[SandMan]

Not only iyou miust reapply, but it good if you clean the area, This is the most important aspect, even if you reapply you are not going to get a good bond without cleaning the area,

[warrior]

Thanks for the help! What should I clean the bolt with?

[SandMan]

To be honest I would use another bolt, I try to raplace the bolts on my bike often. There must be some solvent available, but what I do is take a dremel with the plastic bristtle tip and just clean the threads with it. It's not perfect but it gets them clean enough.

Hope this helps.

[warrior]

top

[fonseca]

Use a steel bristle brush. You can get them in many sizes at hardware stores...I use one with short 1/2" bristles about the size of a toothbrush. Then you just brush the old loctite off.

I also don't think it's always necessary. Disc rotor bolts, for instance, usually come with blue loctite (or white...some non-loctite brand I suppose) already applied, and that stuff can stay together through several reinstalls. But for BB cups, and shock/frame suspension bolts I don't take any chances and always reapply.

I use blue for small to medium bolts and red for BB shells and the bell pivot bolts on frames.

I don't use my dremel tool because it is only a 2-speed high rpm model, but if you have a variable speed it would work. But it may be faster and more convenient just to have a $1 brush in the toolbox.

Fons

[bomberz1qr20]

Originally posted by fonseca


I use blue for small to medium bolts and red for BB shells and the bell pivot bolts on frames.

??
Are you kidding? I use a thin, even layer of grease on he threads, that's ALL. How are you able to get the BB out with normal tools after using the RED stuff?

[Phatswalla]

haha I think GT used loctite on my bottom bracket. I couldn't for the life of me get it off and when I took it into the lbs they had to bring out the 3 foot lever. It made such a horrible sound when it finally came loose. I swear I saw smoke. I only used poly1K when I installed my new bb though.

[cadman]

Originally posted by warrior
Thanks for the help! What should I clean the bolt with?


Loctite does make a solvent for removing threadlocker and retaining compounds. It comes in a spray can.
If I need to remove Loctite I grab a metal scribe and pick at the nut/bolt and the Loctite usually just flakes off. If it doesn't come off that easy I run the bolt in a rethreading die.
Note: a rethreading die is different than a threading die. Rethreading dies are for cleaning up damaged threads or threads that are rusted. Works great.

[fonseca]

Originally posted by bomberz1qr20


??
Are you kidding? I use a thin, even layer of grease on he threads, that's ALL. How are you able to get the BB out with normal tools after using the RED stuff?

Not kidding. Most good quality BBs already come with it applied. Look at every Raceface BB and some FSA BBs. But that threadlock only lasts through a few removals. So you brush it off when it's looking worn, and put a few drops on to cover about a .5" section of threads, wait 2 min for it to set up, and then install. Of course you rub some grease into the threads on your frame's BB shell.

I thought this was common knowledge. If you do a search at mtbr.com you will see that it has been discussed many times.