ET: Engine (Twin) Loctite

Len Matthews

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VOC Member
Can anyone advise a method of freeing a component that's been loctited? Is heat the only way? Or is there a solvent that would soften the damn stuff?
 

oexing

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VOC Member
No solvent for Loctites, heat is only way to lower strength. That is why I recommend at all times to think before, usually the LOW strength types will do, like 221 or 222 . These are comparable to nylocs for nuts. Would you post a photo of your problem ?

Vic
 

timetraveller

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I agree with Vic. I have found heat to be very useful in this context but, like Vic writes, a picture of what is stuck to what would help.
 

Len Matthews

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I agree with Vic. I have found heat to be very useful in this context but, like Vic writes, a picture of what is stuck to what would help.
The item in question is the gearbox camplate spindle.I know that some.clever people can assemble the box with the spindle in place but I would rather remove it if possible.
 

MarBl

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VOC Member
You mean there is something that 95 octane +10% ethanol cant melt
The funny thing is, that I was looking for a reliable sealant for my petrol cock threads for quite some time and never found something that was satisfying. Standard Curil is oftentimes advertised for such purposes here in Germany, but I wasnt really happy with that. Then I was studying Loctite Data Sheets for a completely different reason and found, that most are claimed to be petrol resistant. Next thing was to try it with the cocks and it turned out to be the the best stuff I ever had.
 

timetraveller

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Len, if the slot for a screw driver is in good order in the top of the spindle the way I would tackle it is as follows. Find a decent quality impact screw driver where one of the bits is a really good fit in the slot. All you will be using is the screw driver bit and its holder. All the ones I have seen fit into a half inch socket set. Get a ratchet handle and fit the screw driver bit and test it for 'fit'. You can then get a small gas heater and play the flame around the spindle and surrounding aluminium. The aluminium will conduct the heat away very efficiently so play most of the heat onto the spindle. Once you think it is hot enough try with the leverage of the ratchet handle on the screw drive bit. If it does not move at first keep applying the heat and it will eventually give way.

If the slot in the spindle is worn or otherwise malformed then you need to set up something to push the screw driver bit down into the spindle slot to hold it in there while you turn. If you have to resort to this then you might not be able to use a ratchet handle but use a 'T' handle pushed to one end. You need lots of leverage to get it going. If you go down this route and can be sure that the screw driver bit cannot escape upwards you can use a hammer on the end of the 'T' handle to tap it to start the movement. Good luck with it.

Remember the old adage; never let anything mechanical know you are in a rush. Sneak up on it and take it by surprise.
 

oexing

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
As we cannot know what type of Loctite was used you may have to go to 300 degrees C till strength gets low enough to undo the bolt. But really I´d leave the bolt and do assembly with it in place, not a big problem. I bolted this camplate shaft up onto a flat in the case with a shoulder on it to float the camplate over the selector forks not touching them. Yes, possibly you cannot get all gearbox components out from the bolted up engine - but who needs to when assembly was done as it should. No or most unit construction engines are made for this feature. So why . . . .

Vic
P1070634.JPG
 

Martyn Goodwin

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Non-VOC Member
No solvent for Loctites, heat is only way to lower strength. That is why I recommend at all times to think before, usually the LOW strength types will do, like 221 or 222 . These are comparable to nylocs for nuts. Would you post a photo of your problem ?

Vic
Loctite do produce a solvent that they claim works - its called "Chisel" and is super aggressive - keep it away from skin and paint. It's a nitromethane blend. Also, to my horror I found it melted the seals in sealed bearings. Use with extreme care
 
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