Loco Wheels and Loctite

[ron]

Hi Everybody
Can anyone advise me as to which is the best grade of Locktite to use for fitting loco wheels, the two different types I have set far too quickly for quartering the wheels. From a quick look at their info they either seem to be very fast or very slow ie 24 hrs!
Ron

[greasemonkey]

Hi Ron
I use 603 and have no problem. I turn the wheel seat and then turn a section between the two ends 1 thou under size onto which I put the loctite. Once the loctite has set I then drill and pin the wheel with a roll pin to stop it moving. My prefrence though is for a shrink fit on one wheel unless I know I going to need to get the wheel of for some reason.

Andy

[Deleted]

I've always used Loctite 638 high strength retainer without any problems, but you do need to be quick! All my crank axles have also been assembled with 638 together with pins through the joints, equally no problems.
On my current project I intend to use small keys for quartering and secure the wheels with loctite as per usual.

[ron]

Hi
The general purpose bottle of Loctite I use is 601, 603 has the same cure time on the data sheets so I think it would be too fast for me, 638 has a much slower cure time so might be a better bet. I've never done this quartering before so I'll probably need a little time for re-adjusting.
I've a very old bottle of Loctite 'Bearing Fit' which has no reference number on it, don't know whether Loctite goes off, this must be at least 15+ years old, do you think I should experiment with it or just bin it?
Ron

[baggo]

Ron,

I use 638 but you still can't hang around for too long. I've been caught out a couple of times! In another thread on the subject it was suggested that chilling the parts in the fridge or freezer will prolong the setting time and give you a bit more time for adjustment.
Loctite does go off eventually. I tried some bearing fit that was old and it just would not set at all.

John

[chris vine]

Hi Ron,

I think that the Bearing Fit you have may be a bit weak for this. I think it is designed so that bearings can be pulled out without too much trouble. I have a bottle of loctite retainer which dates from 1983ish and still works fine.....

I used 638 for wheels/axles and it is a bit quick. You can slow it down by putting bits in a freezer first. I am not too sure about condensation on cold parts but they have not come off yet.......

I spoke to Loctite at the time and there is a slow version of 638 but I am afraid I cannot remember its number.

Still a bit windy eh? There is one tile off the garage roof and finally the wind had died down this morning so, ladders out, just up on the roof and it starts to hail. Great!

Chris.

[John Lee]

ron said:

I've a very old bottle of Loctite 'Bearing Fit' which has no reference number on it, don't know whether Loctite goes off, this must be at least 15+ years old, do you think I should experiment with it or just bin it?
Ron

Loctite say it has a shelf life Ron, but just like Chris I have quite a few very old bottles, and it seems to work fine.

I do ensure the parts are very clean, as you would normally; failures in Loctite joints are usually due to too small or too large gaps, as you know.

A running fit, less than a thou or so, and old bottles or new is seems to work.

Whether this is just marketing strategy, or there is some decrease in strength with aged bottles I dunno.

John

[ron]

John
I noticed there's a 'use by date' on modern bottles of Loctite but not on the old stuff, the Bearing Fit I have seems to work OK but I don't use it for anything critical, just stopping studs unscrewing etc when building engines and the suchlike.
Chris
I'll do a bit of experimenting first with chilling the metal, I don't think a bit of condensation would do any harm as long as it's only minor, I was always under the impression these anaerobic adhesives were moisture tolerant?
Weather still rubbish, started building a new pergola to replace the one that got wrecked at New Year, keep getting rained off, the real pity of it is there was a 20 year old climbing Hydrangea on it with about a 2"+ dia trunk [probably why it blew over] which got sheared off at ground level, I doubt whether it will resprout.
Ron

[Shawki Shlemon]

I think 603 is the new prduct to replace 601 and they are much of much .I do the same as Andy and never had a wheel come off in 26 years. fully recommend the method .

[steamjohn248]

No one has mentioned the cleaner that loctite do, (We got ours from J and L) its in a spray can (pump type very 'green') just spray it on /in the job and wipe off with a paper towel until the towel comes off clean. well worth the price and the effort.

Steamjohn

[Chris Kelland]

Hi One and All,

Funny you should mention the 'use by date ' on Loctite products, Ron. We had a visit from Loctite at the club a while ago and this very question came up. The answer is that stored 'correctly', cool steady temperature etc. Loctite of all grades will almost last for ever, but in industry correct storage is not always possible. Industrial customers started asking for 'worst case' shelf life. The oldest Loctite I have is probably 10 -12 years old. I know I'm tight but new loco - new Loctite.

Chris.

[gugger]

Today I did use Loctite 601 that is 26 years old. No problems.

Walter