Threadlock?

[MrBusagain]

Hi all. Bought a used HBK2 and have recently aquired a decent carbon frame and CNC head & tail. Can anyone tell me which specific 'threadlock' to use on the screws/bolts/fixings for the rotatting parts etc as there seems to be so many available. I have found some Loctite TheadLock 243 which appears to be perfect according to its description, but would really like to know what 'you guys' are using on your heli builds, and where to order it from....

Thanks in advance...

Mr Busagain

[DIJ]

I believe Loctite 243 is a medium strength threadlock, so that would be the right one to use. Don't forget to clean bolts thoroughly with something like surgical spirit (available from chemists, and its cheap) prior to applying a small amount of threadlock to the tip of the bolt.

[GravityKills]

... Don't forget to clean bolts thoroughly with something like surgical spirit (available from chemists, and its cheap) prior to applying a small amount of threadlock to the tip of the bolt.

sounds like a lot of work. The effort is IMO better spent somewhere else.

[DIJ]

sounds like a lot of work. The effort is IMO better spent somewhere else.

If a jobs worth doing...............

[GravityKills]

that's the point - it's not
I'd be surprised if hte majority of fliers cleans before threadlocking, i.e. if this is generally accepted.
Soem brands of threadlock even state that they are able to deal with small amounts of oil or grease on the surface.

[Chippy]

Have a look here for a loctite solution guide Henkel - Literature

It states you should degrease and clean when using 243.

I use lots of different types of Loctite daily and always clean and degrease when using them all.

Hope this helps.

[GravityKills]

By all means, use your time to clean screw heads if you think that's best for you and your helis.
And if such is the consensus, I'm sure a close inspection will reveal a bottle of solvent for just that purpose in every experienced flyer's field box :-)

[DIJ]

By all means, use your time to clean screw heads if you think that's best for you and your helis.
And if such is the consensus, I'm sure a close inspection will reveal a bottle of solvent for just that purpose in every experienced flyer's field box :-)

Knew you would come round to our way of thinking in the end

[GravityKills]

If a newbie would ask me for help, the meanest trick I could play on him is to advise
"You have to do everything exactly as the manual says"

And if you haven't cleaned the screws diligently when assembling your heli, maybe it's best to take it apart now and start all over.
OK, cheap shot...

[Rotorhead]

Just couple of bits of advice since no one seems to have mentioned it, if you are using threadlock on something make sure that that something has no contact with plastic parts (metal screw through plastic into metal nut for example) and that any excess cant get on plastic parts, if in doubt use a nyloc nut.

Threadlocker eats plastic, also dont bother using it on anything that gets hot, heat liquifies it, and then it acts like a lubricant and helps the screws fall out.....

[DIJ]

If a newbie would ask me for help, the meanest trick I could play on him is to tell him
"You have to do everything exactly as the manual says"

I actually agree with you on that one, it's too easy for a newbie to think that things have be done a certain way and they have to buy the best gear going or their heli will never fly properly.

But I will have to stick to my guns on the threadlock issue. It's simply common sense, to me anyway, to remove any grease/oil etc from any joint when sticking things together.

Threadlocker eats plastic, also dont bother using it on anything that gets hot, heat liquifies it, and then it acts like a lubricant and helps the screws fall out.....

Good advice.

[GravityKills]

...
But I will have to stick to my guns on the threadlock issue. It's simply common sense, to me anyway, to remove any grease/oil etc from any joint when sticking things together.
...

oh "common sense" can be very flexible ... For me, "common sense" is usually well aligned with "do what everybody else does".

But maybe, if we'd have a poll, it would turn out that actually 96.5 % of all serious flyers carefully degrease their screws before applying threadlock

[MrBusagain]

Anything else to add?

Thanks a lot guys,

so, just to clarify...

I am correct in assuming that threadlock should be used on metal to metal contact, ideally on rotating items, and ensure not used where plastic involved. Keep threadlock away from heat sources... anything else?

have some 243 on order through eBay, so would greatly appreciate any last minute tips before I totally wreck this impending HBK2 carbon frame/metal head/tail rebuild...

comments greatly appreciated!!

[Boggy]

keep it away from bearings (eg inside blade grips/bell cranks etc)

Do degrease your bolts before hand.

as a rule blue threadlok is used during assembly green is used after.

[scallybert]

Just couple of bits of advice since no one seems to have mentioned it, if you are using threadlock on something make sure that that something has no contact with plastic parts (metal screw through plastic into metal nut for example) and that any excess cant get on plastic parts, if in doubt use a nyloc nut.

Threadlocker eats plastic, also dont bother using it on anything that gets hot, heat liquifies it, and then it acts like a lubricant and helps the screws fall out.....

But it comes in a plastic bottle...