Removing Screws

[bc24fl]

Is there a special trick to removing screws that are loctite? My allen wrenches aren't cutting it.

[razzor]

different ideas.
I would nick them tighter before loosening or tap the screw with a larger hex allen key to nock the thread a bit as well as flattening the flared edge of the hex hole.
On metal to metal places i use a small butane torch to heat the screw a bit and this loosens/softens the loctite.

[Jonathan Bell]

+1 on the heat. The heat will break down the locktite and you should be able to remove it. On heads that like to strip take a dremel and a cutoff wheel and cut a straight slot in the head and remove it then with a straight screwdriver. Hope that helps. :)

[hakmazter]

yep, heat. Small portable butane torch can do wonders. Just be careful with it.....

[vnmsgt]

Or be cheap and use a lighter like I do.:p

[bc24fl]

Or be cheap and use a lighter like I do.:p

lol, I actually thought about that but was afraid to do it.

Thanks guys

[YourDogg]

is it a good idea to....locktite the screws?? and what is locktite?

[vnmsgt]

is it a good idea to....locktite the screws?? and what is locktite?

Yes you should loctite the screws that go into metal. You can go to auto parts store and ask for loctite, but it has to be blue loctite. You put it on the threads of the screw and then screw it in. I also use it on my wheel nuts.

[YourDogg]

ok but are you saying there i different kinds of loctite? why blue whats the difference?

[vnmsgt]

ok but are you saying there i different kinds of loctite? why blue whats the difference?

Well the 2 main ones are Blue and Red. Red you do not want to use because most of the time you cannot get the small screws back out and it is really hard. Blue is just enough to keep the screws from vibrating out and still be able to loosen them without too much of a problem.

[YourDogg]

i see. good to know.

[bc24fl]

YD, I learned the hard way... loctizite!!! I messed up my first clutch because of not doing this.

[YourDogg]

YD, I learned the hard way... loctizite!!! I messed up my first clutch because of not doing this. lol that sucks. i have never been called YD before lol. everyone just says dogg(not a bad thing just never heard it) did you mess it up not using loctite or using the red kind?

[vnmsgt]

Well what probably happened was the clutch bell screw came out and the clutch bell slid forward and got loose and chewed up the teeth. Am I right?

[bc24fl]

Well what probably happened was the clutch bell screw came out and the clutch bell slid forward and got loose and chewed up the teeth. Am I right?

The engine mounts came loose and the spur gear ate it up for breakfast.

[bc24fl]

lol that sucks. i have never been called YD before lol. everyone just says dogg(not a bad thing just never heard it) did you mess it up not using loctite or using the red kind?

I frequent the many Linux forums and one of which is YellowDog Linux . Most there abbreviate by using YD so I was just used to it since your name is similar.

Don't worry as long as I don't call you "My Biiiiiiaaccch" everything is A ok. ;)

[YourDogg]

Don't worry as long as I don't call you "My Biiiiiiaaccch" everything is A ok. ;) ok lol.:D

[soonernate]

Heat gun (or hair drier if you don't have access to a heat gun) will sometimes heat up the screw enough to get it loose without melting critical components like a torch can do.

[bc24fl]

Well what probably happened was the clutch bell screw came out and the clutch bell slid forward and got loose and chewed up the teeth. Am I right?

vnmsgt, thanks for the jinx... that is exactly what happened to me last night at the track. The clutch and Spur gear are damaged. ARRGGG!!!!

The good news is that the engine mount screws I loctited before didn't come off. ?&^

Anyway, no big deal as I need to change out the engine anyway so I will spend this week taking apart every screw and loctiting the entire car.

Rookies like me learn with their wallets!!

[YourDogg]

vnmsgt, thanks for the jinx... that is exactly what happened to me last night at the track. The clutch and Spur gear are damaged. ARRGGG!!!!

The good news is that the engine mount screws I loctited before didn't come off. ?&^

Anyway, no big deal as I need to change out the engine anyway so I will spend this week taking apart every screw and loctiting the entire car.

Rookies like me learn with their wallets!! i dont wanna learn with my wallet:(

[bc24fl]

i dont wanna learn with my wallet:(

That will be tough especially since you don't have a nearby track with experienced rc'ers around. But I guess you can do what I DID NOT and when you get the car take out 1 screw at a time and nut lock the thing. Especially the engine mounting screws, clutch screw and under the chasis. Everything else can probably survive. GL!

[rpg711]

That will be tough especially since you don't have a nearby track with experienced rc'ers around. But I guess you can do what I DID NOT and when you get the car take out 1 screw at a time and nut lock the thing. Especially the engine mounting screws, clutch screw and under the chasis. Everything else can probably survive. GL!
when I get my caster, I'm just going to fire it up and go straight to breaking in(well mabee I'll take the engine off and find BDC on my flywheel first)
THEN i'll loctite... too big of a hassle and I'm 100% sure that i'll be so excited to have my first *hopefully* working nitro buggy.

[YourDogg]

yeah i will either loctite everything first or break in the engine. does the buggy and truggy come with a way to break in the engine in the manual?

[rpg711]

If you have a IR temp sensor then just do it the "new school" method
http://youtube.com/watch?v=01HWhzlYvII&feature=related
if you don't then just follow the traxxas method... just search for "traxxas setup" on youtube(there's 5 vids on break in, and i'm too lazy to copy all their urls)

[bc24fl]

I will be taking apart my engine components today and had a question for you guru's. What do you guys think if I were to use RED nut lock instead of the recommended BLUE for fastening the engine mount / clutch. What are the possibilities the clutch or engine would strip / break if screws are guaranteed to stay in place?

Is there any liquid I can use to reverse the effects of the RED lock?

What I want is to set it and forget it and not worry about checking the cars screws every time I put it on the track.

What is the best setup for screw management? The problem with BLUE lock is that when it wears it comes off and I still need to continue to check periodically for loose screws.

Guys any help would be much appreciated as this will solve a huge part of my problems.

[razzor]

No matter what you use just rememebr there is no fit and forget with RC.
Id suggest using the blue loctite on cvd grub screws, center drive shaft joints, engine to engine mount scr4ews.
I dont ever put on the engine mount screw that go from under the chassis.
For screws that go into plastic i use some super glue and would change the to longer screws for the shock tower mounting into the bulkheads.

[bc24fl]

I dont ever put on the engine mount screw that go from under the chassis.


You don't use loctite on the engine mounts screws under the chassis? Is that what you meant?

Also, from you broad experience, what are the chances of stripping clutch / spur gear if you are guaranteed screws won't come loose?

[vnmsgt]

You don't use loctite on the engine mounts screws under the chassis? Is that what you meant?

Also, from you broad experience, what are the chances of stripping clutch / spur gear if you are guaranteed screws won't come loose?

It would be less likely to strip but you clutch bell will wear and you shoes will to and you will eventually have to remove them unless you plan to replace the K8T with a new one whenever maintenance is needed!:&!@

[razzor]

Nick them with a good quality driver and they are good to hold in place.
I have never had one come loose on me or any of my customers cars.

[bc24fl]

Ah didn't think about the shoes.

vnmsgt, you recycle K8T's? :)

[vnmsgt]

I do except free donations of unloved R/C's!

[bc24fl]

Have anyone of you ever seen screws (just like the stock screws) that instead of round edges has 3-4 edges so that you can loosen / tighten with a wrench.

I'd pay $100 to get my hands on something like that today.

[razzor]

That is actually a very good idea :)
Maybe we could ask Mikey to look into that seeing that teh hex on teh screws do wear out .

[bc24fl]

That is actually a very good idea :)
Maybe we could ask Mikey to look into that seeing that teh hex on teh screws do wear out .

Taking the car apart would no longer be a hassle and I could tighten the screws much better with a wrench.