Red Loctite

Zoom This · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 09:09 AM

Seems that the meathead that installed my Tremec 4 years ago admittedly used red Loctite on the allen bolts holding the shifter handle to the transmission. No matter how I tried I could NOT budge the allen bolt loose, short of stripping the bolt head. I tried to heat the bolt with a propane torch but was concerned how much heat was needed to loosen the Loctite, short of setting my car on fire. How much really is needed to loosen this stuff? I was trying to remove the shifter handle to replace a worn boot. Wound up stretching the boot over the T handle. Any ideas on "ungluing" this stuff?

NFLDMNBB · #2 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 09:13 AM

Heat from the torch should free it. Just heat a little and try it, heat as needed. You should not need to get it "Red Hot"

bobcowan · #3 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 09:29 AM

Do you have a hand impact wrench? They're amazingly helpfull for this sort of thing.

Zoom This · #4 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcowan

Do you have a hand impact wrench? They're amazingly helpfull for this sort of thing.

Good idea. Don't have one but will this weekend. Cool tool.

DavidBlaine · #5 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 12:27 PM

Impact drivers are indispensable when working at home on old cars.

Nadeem

madmaxx · #6 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 01:14 PM

500F will melt the loctite, heat to remove, impact will just wallow out the head of the bolt. If possible put the heat directly on the bolt head so it conducts to the threads

xlr8or · #7 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 01:17 PM

Brake spray will help clean out the loctite as well but DO NOT HEAT IT. Brake spray gets toxic heated.

NFLDMNBB · #8 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 01:39 PM

If you read instructions for Red you will see the bolt - nut can be removed by heat. Again, not red hot. I've done this many times. Red holds very well but does free with "Little Heat"

Roger

BBQCYCLEWERKES · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 01:41 PM

I use my commercial heat gun. This way I don't have to worry about starting a major fire. Takes a little longer but it works also. If no heat gun how about a hair dryer set to high. Unsure if this will get hot enough but worth a try. Good luck. I hope you don't strip the head on the bolt. P.S. make sure you chase the treads in the item the bolt is screwed into also. This will make it easier to install and remove again if you need to.

Rick Parker · #10 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 03:58 PM

Do what madmaxx said :

Quote:

If possible put the heat directly on the bolt head so it conducts to the threads

The heat will transfer through the bolt and melt the Locktite before being conducted into the tranny.

Barnsnake · #11 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 07:27 PM

Regular red Loctite will release at 325*F. The super high-temp requires 500*F. There are generally no metallurgy problems at 325*. Just heat slowly until it releases and everything should be fine on the shifter.

Pete Munroe · #12 (**permalink**) 11-19-2010, 08:37 PM

Doesn't seem possible to use a "impact driver" on a shifter stub sticking up on an installed trans...you better have a "dolly". or bucking block to match the blows you are putting on the assembly or there is not going to be any impact to break anything free.

Heat seems better. A machinist friend of mine uses a torch to heat the head of a rusted/locktited bolt...he heats it red, briefly, and then gives it a whack with a hammer. But, those parts are solid mounted...not floating in the breeze like a shifter stub. In this case it was brake calipers on a older 911 Porsce

A impact hammer on a unsupported bolt isn't going to do much but break/bend the part part you are beating on.

All that said, I have been rather disappointed to see any bolt ever installed by me with red or blue, to be easily removed, more or less. I thought I was good at removing any lubricants from the threads, or, maybe my red-locktite is out of date.