Old 10-27-14 | 11:54 PM
  #46  
Babel Coglioni
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Joined: Dec 2010
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I had the same problem. I bought a new SRAM S300 1.1 crankset to replace the original Sugino square-tapered crankset on my 2007 Specialized Langster single speed road bike (my all-weather commuter). I wanted to swap the supplied 48T chainring for my existing 44T. I have a BBB-brand chainring nut wrench. I have a hex key. I've swapped chainrings before.

After several attempts - involving much cursing, wrench slippage, and burring of the diametrically opposed slots on the nuts - I removed one of the bolts. That was when I discovered the green Loctite. From the green Loctite technical data sheet:

For disassembly, shear with standard hand tools [...] In rare instances where hand tools do not work because of excessive engagement length, apply localized heat to nut or bolt to approximately 482 degrees F (250 degrees C). Disassemble while hot.
To remove the remaining bolts, I applied a heat g u n for around 5 minutes to each bolt. Then they grudgingly unwound.

I'm going to look for some chainring bolts with hex sockets on each side. I never liked those slotted nuts or their wrenches. Blaming my tools, I know, but I've skinned my knuckles more than once on chainring teeth after the wrench slipped out of the slots. That's without Loctite. I've never managed to burr those slots before, though; at least, not nearly so badly.

I wanted to end this post with a fact-based statement about SRAM's decision to use green Loctite: as in, "it's wrong, and these are the figures to prove it". However, after doing some research on recommended chainring bolt tightening torque, Loctite breakaway/prevail/breakloose torque, and tightening torque versus loosening torque in general, I find myself mired in too many variables. I'd appreciate someone with more time and a stronger grasp of the science to step in here. All I can offer is an opinion based on first-hand experience mixed with some research: I think that green Loctite is the wrong choice for this application, especially for the supplied chainring bolts with slotted nuts. This is the first time I've needed a heat g u n to swap a chainring. At the very least, SRAM could mention this use of green Loctite in the documentation supplied with the crankset - perhaps with a recommendation, to quote the Loctite fact sheet, "to apply localized heat [...] to approximately 250 degrees C".
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