Threadlocker alternatives
#1
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Threadlocker alternatives
Hi! I noticed my front rim brake caliper would get misaligned after every ride. Turns out the little centering screw loosens itself from road buzz (the roads here are ****). What's strange is it still has the factory threadlocker on it. I want to reapply it, but threadlocker here costs around 7 USD and no local shop stocks it (I live in a small town), so I have to order it online. As a broke college student, I'm not keen on the idea of spending on something I'll only use once. Are there other alternatives for threadlocker, preferably something that isn't too strong since the grub screw is tiny and prone to rounding out? Thanks!
#2
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Fingernail polish.
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Every auto supply or big box hardware store stocks small tubes of Loctite or it's one of its competitors. Get Loctite Grade 222 (Purple) or Grade 243 (Blue) which are removable without heat.
#6
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Thanks!
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My bottle of loctite is still good after 10 years, at least. I use it for more than bikes, too. It's helpful to have it in my toolkit.
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Note the OP's Location.....locktite while ubiquitous in the US small towns, it is not elsewhere. but as noted if you can get it online, it lasts a long time, is purpose designed so there will be less problems than with using alternatives
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
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positively located but fixed in place with loktite. Well my 10 or more year old loktite failed despite recleaning
several times. A new bottle worked fine to freeze the RD mount in place but not so much as to make removal
difficult as I had to take it down again for another reason. You may not realize that the stuff is not doing its job
unless the part comes loose, and the vast majority of our bike use the loktite is not under much stress, unlike
my RD mount or the OPs brake mount which is stressed every time the brakes are applied.
Point is loktite is cheap and should be discarded after 5-8 yrs of opening.
#10
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(that was one of my inteview questions for people who listed unix as a skill, amazing how many failed
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Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
Life is too short not to ride the best bike you have, as much as you can
(looking for Torpado Super light frame/fork or for Raleigh International frame fork 58cm)
#13
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Hi! I noticed my front rim brake caliper would get misaligned after every ride. Turns out the little centering screw loosens itself from road buzz (the roads here are ****). What's strange is it still has the factory threadlocker on it. I want to reapply it, but threadlocker here costs around 7 USD and no local shop stocks it (I live in a small town), so I have to order it online. As a broke college student, I'm not keen on the idea of spending on something I'll only use once. Are there other alternatives for threadlocker, preferably something that isn't too strong since the grub screw is tiny and prone to rounding out? Thanks!
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Like this:
rm -rf *
Do not try this at /home
Edit: or $HOME
#15
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As I recall, it's only a problem for everyone if you have root access. It's often if not generally at least a minor problem for whoever issues that command. (smile)
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Unix jokes aside, cheap garbage nail polish from the drugstore is a great threadlocker. Cheap, comes with a built-in brush, holds tight enough for most bicycle uses, and it only requires a decent tug on the wrench to break it loose when you have to remove the threaded thing you used it on.
And you can usually find a bottle that will match your paint reasonably closely, so you've also got a quick-n'-dirty touch-up paint on hand as well.
Win-win!
--Shannon
And you can usually find a bottle that will match your paint reasonably closely, so you've also got a quick-n'-dirty touch-up paint on hand as well.
Win-win!
--Shannon
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I've experienced a similar situation with brakes not staying centered. Turns out I had to adjust my cable housing length so that it was not putting pressure on the caliper to cause it to be non-centered.
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#18
Full Member
sometimes Locktite don't "take."
been having a devil of a time with rt hand downtube shifter thumb tightner not staying put.
tried cleaning the parts good and using locktite red, kind of a speed bump to loosening, but problem still there.
some bike parts have a plating that is too slick. Locktite calls it "inactive surfaces"
i remember using locktite primer at work and boy did it work, so i am sending for this>
https://www.amazon.com/Loctite-49414...73825757&psc=1
been having a devil of a time with rt hand downtube shifter thumb tightner not staying put.
tried cleaning the parts good and using locktite red, kind of a speed bump to loosening, but problem still there.
some bike parts have a plating that is too slick. Locktite calls it "inactive surfaces"
i remember using locktite primer at work and boy did it work, so i am sending for this>
https://www.amazon.com/Loctite-49414...73825757&psc=1
#19
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Thanks for all your suggestions! I used a generous coat of clear nail polish on the threads and let it dry. A 40 km ride today (on crappy roads) and I'm pleased to report that it seems to have worked. If it ever loosens up in the future, then I'll definitely get myself a small bottle of Loctite 243.
I also experienced this on my dad's bike. But it wasn't in my case as it was getting pushed in the opposite direction. It was definitely caused by the loosening centering screw. Good suggestion, though. Thanks!
I also experienced this on my dad's bike. But it wasn't in my case as it was getting pushed in the opposite direction. It was definitely caused by the loosening centering screw. Good suggestion, though. Thanks!
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