Red vs Blue
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 198
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From: Lakeland, TN
Red vs Blue
Nope, not Patriots vs Seahawks or Republicans vs Democrats, but rather the two main types of Loctite that most all of us put on everything we take off before we put it back on. The question is: is there really a time you'd use Red? I can't really think of a fastener that I'd never want to take off again. Since Red can make it so difficult to remove as to make it impossible to do without destroying the fastener, why use it? Is Red ever truly required? The reason I ask is that I need to put the exhaust clamps back on my bike. Do I use Red or Blue? It certainly gets hot enough to cook the Blue off, but Red (I figure) is why I stripped the head on the bolt out when I took it off in the first place. I've noticed that most people post that they used Blue in a lot of places where the service manual says to use Red. Just trying to find out what people think and why they think it.
There are a few places in the service manual where red is indicated.
I would only use red in those locations.
For example, shock bolts are usually red, and I've never had a problem with using red where it's called for. Permanent is not really permanent on a large fastener with a good ratchet.
I would only use red in those locations.
For example, shock bolts are usually red, and I've never had a problem with using red where it's called for. Permanent is not really permanent on a large fastener with a good ratchet.
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
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From: Dallas tx
You use red on things that you rarely take apart and that see a lot of vibration or stress. Think of critical components like engine rod cap nuts/bolts. That's a red component. In order to break loose a red, all you need to do is give it a quick, sharp rap with a small hammer. Don't damage it though..
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Feb 2, 2015 at 08:02 AM.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 198
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From: Lakeland, TN
You use red on things that you rarely take apart and that see a lot of vibration or stress. Think of critical components like engine rod cap nuts/bolts. That's a red component. In order to break loose a red, all you need to do is give it a quick, sharp rap with a small hammer. Don't damage it though..
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: AR
knowledge is power or something like that...the numbers change from time to time as they update formulas or think of more ways to sell different products. The following link should be a good start though...
http://www.henkelna.com/us/content_d...king_Guide.pdf
http://www.henkelna.com/us/content_d...king_Guide.pdf
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 198
Likes: 1
From: Lakeland, TN
knowledge is power or something like that...the numbers change from time to time as they update formulas or think of more ways to sell different products. The following link should be a good start though...
http://www.henkelna.com/us/content_d...king_Guide.pdf
http://www.henkelna.com/us/content_d...king_Guide.pdf
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From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I don't use either on exhaust clamps (the ones that clamp the muffler to the pipe, to make sure we're talking about the same thing). All mine have self locking nuts, and they'd get hot enough to probably soften loctite anyway - that's another way to loosen loctited fasteners, heat the bolt/screw first. You shouldn't soak a fastener in loctite, either, just a drop or two about the middle of the threaded contact area will do; if it's solid through the whole contact area, you might snap the head off before the threads will release without a lot of heat. I use red on the rear pulley bolts and the big nuts in the primary for sure, and occasionally run across something else I'll put a drop or two of red on - only on the bigger stuff, even a quarter inch screw could be a real pita to remove without breaking if it gets put in with red.
I've known guys to try taking the slop out of a worn screw/bolt hole by using enough red to fill in the gap. Terrible idea, red isn't structural strength and the bolt can break it up if there's space to wobble a bit. And if it doesn't, good luck trying to get it out again.
I've known guys to try taking the slop out of a worn screw/bolt hole by using enough red to fill in the gap. Terrible idea, red isn't structural strength and the bolt can break it up if there's space to wobble a bit. And if it doesn't, good luck trying to get it out again.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 852
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From: Dallas tx
Actually on that I'd probably not use any, but if I were to I'd use blue. The reason is its not a critical component. It's also fairly large bolts with lock washers, or there should be lock washers. I'm not sure about what comes on your pipes though..
The reason the red is so hard to break loose is it hardens. The blue does not.
The reason the red is so hard to break loose is it hardens. The blue does not.
Last edited by Pitbull_Dallas; Feb 2, 2015 at 03:28 PM.