Threadlock ! What a pain !

[stuartflys]

I have spent all day today trying to rebuild 2 Trex 450's (1 mine, 1 a mates). All the screws were threadlocked when they were fist built.

The number of hours it has taken to undo the screws and bolts to take them apart is crazy. Not to mention the state of my hands, or the number of stripped screw heads!

Does anyone have any top tips to solve this problem - apart from not crashing!

Is there a solution that can be applied to the screws to loosen the threadlock? Do other people have this problem or is it just me?, never hear any talk about it on the forums.

Cheers,

Stu

[adieuk]

we all have this problem mate welcome to the world of
chessy bolts from align

[stuartflys]

I think the problem is worse on the 450's than the bigger screws on the 600's. They are just so damn small that trying to get enough purchace on them without breaking the thing is imposible. I ended up cutting the frame to get the head bearings out (frame was already damaged) in a vice.

Must stop crashing ...

[richieclarkie]

A lot of people including me when I first started use too much loktight.

Most manuals state to just apply to the bottom 2-3 threads. However often people apply to most of the bolt! What I do now is dip the end of the bolt (2-3mm only) in loktight, then wipe away excess so just the threads contain the loktight, this way you should never have too much

If the screw is into metal and there is no plastic around you can carefully apply a soldering iron tip to the head of the bolt. Basically enough heat will breakdown blue loktight, obviously you need to be careful but this method has helped me a few times.

I would also recommend using high quality allen keys as cheap ones will damage heads easily. Also when you expect a bolt to be well stuck always apply a large amount of downwards force before you turn. Seems obvious but in all my time flying helis I've never rounded a bolt so I know the above works.

[stuartflys]

Like the solder iron tip!

[waveydavey]

The soldering iron works well. A great tip from our very own Mart61 is to use a cotton bud dipped in threadlock and then just wipe the bolt on the first few threads. Remember when replacing these bolts need next to nothing to tighten them sufficiently. A tip is to use only your thumb and first finger to tighten not a fistful and only go enough to bottom the bolt and then a small squeeze.

[ddracer]

As said I use a gas powered soldering iron. The thing with thred lock is less is more. A drop the size of a pin head on the botom of the bolt then wiped round the bottom threds will easily be enough.

[zoombolt]

I heat the end of the hex driver over a gas hob when I have this problem.

[Smoothound]

Main thing is to use loctite but only use enough. If you get gung ho with it it can be a nightmare

[alex]

Nice thread- I had all those issues this week and spent several frustrating hours sorting things out with help from here.

Good tools is a must- poorer quality ones will have a softer tip, so will strip the inside of the the bolt and also the tool itself.

If you have no plastic around, the soldering iron works well. When you first try to undo the bolt, apply progressive torque-if you put full force on initially, there is a big risk of things stripping- the threadlock will gradually losen with a steady build up of torque. You can also try tightening the bolt very very slightly then go back the otherway- this can help break the bond.

When you are replacing the bolt, use minimal threadlock as said before.
I put a drop on the last 2-3 thread turns, allow it to go around the thread by capillary action, then you can dab it with kitchen paper towel- this removes any excess and leaves a thin coating.

The last point I learned the hard way is not to use red threadlock :P I had some from my motorbike and let's just say it was a bit strong! Use blue.

[stuartflys]

Thanks for all the tips. From now on i'll stop using quite as much!

As the the quality tools, where do people get their allan keys? The only places I can find them (like b&q, screwfix etc..) only sell them in a big pack. I think there is only one or two sizes that are required for the 450 and 600 size screws. It seems a bit crazy to buy a set of 10 when you only need 1 good one!

[mark Taylor]

Been using these
Fast Lad Performance for a couple of years now,
Still going strong
If you want the best then search for huddy or swiss tool hex drivers

But the align are excellent value
hope this helps.

BTW i think i have only stripped a couple of bolts.
And believe me i rebuilt a few heli's

cheers

[alex]

I hope I have done all my stripping this week !! :P

It sometimes help to learn the hard way lol.

[zoombolt]

Here you go.

http://video.helifreak.com/?subpath=...eadlock101.wmv

[Three6ty]

Hi,
Something I have found. I had several 1.5mm hex drivers but all had a little movement when inserted into the bolt head. I was forever rounding off hex bolt heads.
I saw Ron (Boggy) in Hobby Hangar a few weeks ago and he suggested I got the align hex drivers. Best investment I've made for ages especially the 1.5mm one. It fits perfectly and thus no more rounded bolt heads. I even had a couple of hex bolts in my 450 that had rounded and used the new align hex driver and it got them out.
Cheers, Rich