What's the right Loctite?

[SabreFlyr]

I've never been really confident that I'm using the right kind of Loctite on my heli's screws. It hasn't flown or been run yet so I can't know from experience whether this is the right kind. All I've been told before is use "blue loctite." Well, the Loctite I'm using (242) is blue itself but the tube is red. The tube pictured in a recent RCH article is blue. According to the company website (http://www.loctite.com/int_henkel/loctite_us), Loctite 242 is a medium strength thread locker that is removable by hand tools. The notes on the tube indicate that it can attack some plastics.

Is this the wrong stuff? :confused:

[heli-cuzz]

Only use blue loctite with screw to metal or a nut and bolt. It does react with plastics in a bad way.

[Shinanigans]

I think red makes it almost impossible to remove.
Blue loctite is tough but is possible to remove.
Don't use Loctite in plastics because i think the problem there is that when it dries it expands inside the thread and shags the thread.

Please correct anything that's wrong guys :confused:

[broke-again]

242 blue is ok for use on your screws etc, Red is meant to be permanent and is used mostly in nitro helis where heat is also an issue..only use loctite where metal meets metal. You only need the smallest amount, i personally use a cotton bud q-tip and simply apply loctite until it fully absorbed into the cotton. I then gently dab the screw/nut or whatever against the q-tip. "Less is best", you dont want to much as it will seep, not good if your near a bearing. :eek:

Hope this helps

[SabreFlyr]

Okay, when you're saying blue or red, you're referring to the color of the Loctite itself and not the tube, right? A small tube of the blue (Loctite color, not tube) was included with my Venture 30. That's why I believed that the blue Loctite 242 (red tube) that I had was the right stuff.

Broke-again, I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention using red Loctite on any heli, nitro or otherwise. I presume you're saying to use it only on engine mounts and other parts (clutch, muffler, etc.) directly in contact with the engine. Thanks for the Q-tip idea. Sounds like a good way to control this stuff.

[team222badbrad]

Another thing you can do to prevent too much loctite from leaving the tube is to put a pinhole through the nipple, instead of cutting it off.

[broke-again]

Broke-again, I don't think I've ever heard anyone mention using red Loctite on any heli, nitro or otherwise. I presume you're saying to use it only on engine mounts and other parts (clutch, muffler, etc.) directly in contact with the engine.

You presume correctly...I know of a couple of guys who use red loctite in areas where heat & vibration are a factor...At the end of the day i guess its all down to personal preference and piece of mind.

[tdswan]

There's lots of places you use red loctite on the Predator gasser. I can think of a few off-hand. I also use red on fans and clutch hubs in nitros as well. It's not impossible to get off, it does take some force, though. That's why I use it on the critical, fast-moving parts. Things like the shafts that go to a shaft-drive tail. They get really hummin' and loctiting the bearings onto these shafts eliminates the wear from vibration between the shaft & bearing. I've had my pinion gear also move against the bearing so much it took almost a half of a mm off the outside of the pinion on my Raptor so I now loctite that in place as well.


Red Loctite has it's place, but the blue is most widely used for metal frames and such.