Loctite or not?
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 268
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From: West Liberty, Oh
Loctite or not?
Getting ready to switch out rocker box covers (all 4). Watched a video and read some stuff about it. 1st question is on the video by Fuel Moto the guy says to use loctite on the bolts. I went to HD and talked to a mechanic and he said no. Do not use loctite. Just torq them to specs. What is your opinion? I am more worried about the inner bolts. Also, I went through a how to on this site and guy says to let the pistons decompress all way to bottom. Everything else I read said not to worry about them. Just switch out the covers. This is my 1st time doing rocker boxes so just wanna make sure I do it right and not screw anything up. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Out on Deranged
Getting ready to switch out rocker box covers (all 4). Watched a video and read some stuff about it. 1st question is on the video by Fuel Moto the guy says to use loctite on the bolts. I went to HD and talked to a mechanic and he said no. Do not use loctite. Just torq them to specs. What is your opinion? I am more worried about the inner bolts. Also, I went through a how to on this site and guy says to let the pistons decompress all way to bottom. Everything else I read said not to worry about them. Just switch out the covers. This is my 1st time doing rocker boxes so just wanna make sure I do it right and not screw anything up. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
You can use Loctite blue if you want, but once torqued right you don't need that.
Last edited by maddghost; Mar 27, 2013 at 08:19 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 854
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From: CT
Friend you really need a manual for this job if your guessing about the piston position. In order to put your rocker arms in and get those covers on you must do them one at a time. You need the bike on a lift and with the spark plugs removed the bike in third gear turn the back wheel until the piston is in top dead center position. You look in the cylinder from the plug hole with a flashlight and be sure the piston is at the very top pos. that way the pushrods are both at rest. You do one box then the other. You need a manual for complete instructions. good luck.
You can use Loctite blue if you want, but once torqued right you don't need that.
You can use Loctite blue if you want, but once torqued right you don't need that.
Last edited by vdop; Mar 27, 2013 at 08:32 PM.
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Joined: Nov 2009
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From: Sonoma County, CA
I may have missed something here, but he is only changing the rocker box COVERS. Nothing else. Why would you be concerned with what position the pistons are in when you are not changing rockers or rocker arms? I DO have a service manual and changed mine out a couple of months ago. It doesn't say anything about those details when just changing just the covers.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: West Liberty, Oh
I do have a service manual and am only switching out the covers. Thanks for the feedback so far.
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Fairly simple, if in can come loose and you don't want it to loctite it. Next if it needs to be removed blue loctite it, if only occasional removal with long term between and high stress, red, never then green. If it needs to be disassembled regularly is short terms and it can be done then safety wire it.
This rule applies to steel. Aluminum needs Teflon tape. I have heard of some who suggest loctite tape although I have never tried it period so I don't know.
Bob
This rule applies to steel. Aluminum needs Teflon tape. I have heard of some who suggest loctite tape although I have never tried it period so I don't know.
Bob