Loctite, where to use or avoid

[LD1]

I am guessing there are far more people who DIDNT use and and wished they did. Or at least some other means to prevent fastener loosening.

 

[Raul-02]

Vibratite is a great alternative to Locktite for some applications.

they are both anaerobic epoxies and cyanoacrylate, I notice that Loctite has cut its price structure. Now Vibratite is a little more expensive

 

[Raul-02]

Loctite, where to use or avoid​

I prefer to rely on proper torque. For wheel lug-nuts I use the proper torque with anti-seize. For small assemblies that are torque sensitive, I may use the stuff but the situation determines which of the sealants I use.
The proper torque should work as well as any thread lock compound. The worm in the ointment is cheap, badly alloyed steel from China. Lots of companies sell fasteners from there and you can not depend on proper torque. Correct torq can destroy many of the Chinese butter-bolts.

 

[TXCYCLE]

I know the OP was referring to tractors and associated equipment but wanted to share this. I know there’s a few motorcycle riders here. Twenty years ago I sold custom motorcycles for a company in Texas. We had a model with a 240mm rear tire, 9.5” wide for the metric impaired like me.
it had a huge engine, sat low, and a big cool factor for those inclined.

The engine was bolted directed to the frame, not rubber mounted which makes a much smoother ride. It also had, or didn’t have, any suspension, no shocks, no springs, no nada.
It was called a hard tail & again, was aimed at a certain market segment.

It also vibrated like a demon processed with a 113 cu.inch direct mounted engine, the big fat rear tire, & no suspension. We sold a boatload of them too. But from the first day, first one sold we had a solid stream of complaints from dealers & customers of parts vibrating and falling off. Lights and mirrors were the first to go, then horns, kickstands, you get the idea. Riding behind these cats was not the place to be.

The factory immediately put blue locktite on everything.
then a couple weeks later, red. That helped the problem but stuff still fell off. But man, did we sell a bunch of those. One customer rode his to Sturgis and back to Texas. He was a tattoo artist btw.
Hope you all excuse the reminiscing.

 

[1st Tractor]

Some great thread locking test shown here:

 

[ArlyA]

There is a lot more out there than the 242 that you grab from the hardware store. Gels, pens, tapes, sticks, liquids. One thing I really like is the VC3 as it is both removeable and reusable. It isn't a typical red in strength, but works well for mild vibration issues. Vibra-TITE

Thanks! I'm going to get this some of this VC3 stuff that is reuseable.

 

[RalphVa]

Where have you used loctite on your equipment and you are glad you did? Where have you used it and wished you did not use it? Have you ever used red and realized it was a huge mistake?

I have used blue on the tail wheel of my rotary cutter and on the stabilizer chain on the side that connects to the tractor. I have never used red.

I used blue loctite on the chipper blade of the MacKissic TPH-122. Never used the red.

Also used blue on the bolts holding the top attachment points on the Miata.

 

[GB540]

Has anybody ever used red and wished they did not? A mechanic told me I might as well weld a bolt on if I were going to use red; I have never used it.

Don't use it with machine screws, or generally under 3/8" to 1/2" fine thread, if you want to get it apart again. (Believe some of it advises against using with fine thread altogether.)

Machine screws (generally) don't need that kind of holding power, but if you need it to never come apart red will do it!

 

[Raul-02]

but if you need it to never come apart red will do it!

takes 450F to weaken the bond.

 

[ericm979]

Has anybody ever used red and wished they did not? A mechanic told me I might as well weld a bolt on if I were going to use red; I have never used it.

There's hundreds of locking compounds made by LocTite. The most common red one is a medium strength thread locker. When I have used it the fasteners have come loose but it takes more torque. You can also use heat to loosen the bond though I have never needed to.

I have used a high strength thread locker on engine cylinder studs. I really did not want those to come out. I call it nuclear strength thread locker. I've not had to remove one of those but you would likely need heat to do it without damaging the engine cases.