Loc-tite and checking torque
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 201
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From: Tampa FL
Loc-tite and checking torque
This may be a dumb question, but I see post after post about checking the torque on everything from heel shifters to pulley bolts so this is my question. If these are bolts that are installed with loc-tite either blue or red am I possibly breaking that bond if I'm rechecking torque values. Should I be removing bolts/screws etc and reapplying loc-tite each time I want to check them? Just curious.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 570
Likes: 4
From: New Mexico
If a bolt has loctite on it it should not work loose. If you check it and it is loose then the loctite has failed. Red loctite is pretty strong and green normally requires heat to loosen. Blue will resist vibration.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Maybe I should rephrase question, if I use loc-tite do I need to ever go back and check torque? For instance with the heel shifter which I see post after post of people having them fall off, if I use blue and set torque I should not have to worry about it again?
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 417
Likes: 6
From: Fargo ND
If you tourque a bolt and use loc tite you should be able to check the torque at any time because when the loc tite dries that will increase the torque needed to move the bolt. If the bolt does move when your checking things, then the loc tite has failed and you need to remove and clean the bolt and redo.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 201
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
If you tourque a bolt and use loc tite you should be able to check the torque at any time because when the loc tite dries that will increase the torque needed to move the bolt. If the bolt does move when your checking things, then the loc tite has failed and you need to remove and clean the bolt and redo.
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 143
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There are two types of friction, static and dynamic. When your tightening a bolt and the bolt is turning that is dynamic friction. When you stop and then start again you have to overcome static friction which is higher. So if you also add loctite this could furthur reduce friction during installation. When the loctite cures you will have to overcome its bond strength plus static friction so using the same torque you used initialy should not move the bolt. If it does, you will have to remove it, clean it, then re-apply the Loctite.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 188
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When you do check the critical items for torque, set the wrench to the low range. IE if the spec is 15-21 ft/lbs. set 15 and check it. If the bolt is tight you are good to go. If it breaks free, remove it, clean it if required, apply new blue loctite, and retorque to a mid range value. 18-19 in the above example. Just my teqnique, every wrench has their own way of doing things.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,780
Likes: 69
From: Al Bu Ker Key, New Mexico
When checking all the "critical fasteners" and assuming the bolts are NOT loose, when I attach the torque wrench to the bolt and attempt to turn the wrench but do NOT hear the click, nor does the bolt turn, should I then assume the bolt is at the proper torque? Also, since each fastener shows a RANGE in the specs where do I set the torque value on the wrench to check the torque? I can see how I might set the torque value within range but at a higher value than what the bolt is currently torqued and wind up torqueing the bolt higher than really necessary.
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