Teflon tape on threads
#1
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Teflon tape on threads
Hey guys, just wondering, does anyone here use teflon tape on their BB threads? Pedal threads? Every few months my bike develops a tick in the BB, I tighten it down and all is well. I would like to get rid of this. Would teflon tape be a good solution? At the least, it can't mess anything up...can it?
#2
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You've got a Habby, right?
Allow me to quote Mark Hickey, the President of Habanero Cycles, from r.b.t.:
https://groups.google.com/group/rec.b...87350e00c345ac
Me? I just use nickel-based anti-seize on my ti frame. That and proper torque and it's dead quiet.
Good luck!
Allow me to quote Mark Hickey, the President of Habanero Cycles, from r.b.t.:
https://groups.google.com/group/rec.b...87350e00c345ac
Originally Posted by markHickey
Teflon tape is basically a VERY thin sheet of lubricant. It takes up
very, very little room, and I recommend it highly for the installation
of bottom brackets.
1) Thoroughly clean everything (BB shell, cups, etc.)
2) Wrap teflon tape around the BB cups (making sure that it's in the
direction that won't "unwind" when you screw in the cups).
3) Slather the inside of the frame's BB shell with grease
4) Slather the inside of the BB cups (in the case of a cartridge BB)
with grease, and put some on the outside of the cartridge where
they'll be inserted into the cups (this interface is one of the
biggest potential "noise generators" on a bike)
5) Slather some grease on top of the teflon tape
6) Install, torquing to spec (pretty darn tight if you don't have a
torque wrench).
This will keep your BB quiet and happy for a long, long time.
very, very little room, and I recommend it highly for the installation
of bottom brackets.
1) Thoroughly clean everything (BB shell, cups, etc.)
2) Wrap teflon tape around the BB cups (making sure that it's in the
direction that won't "unwind" when you screw in the cups).
3) Slather the inside of the frame's BB shell with grease
4) Slather the inside of the BB cups (in the case of a cartridge BB)
with grease, and put some on the outside of the cartridge where
they'll be inserted into the cups (this interface is one of the
biggest potential "noise generators" on a bike)
5) Slather some grease on top of the teflon tape
6) Install, torquing to spec (pretty darn tight if you don't have a
torque wrench).
This will keep your BB quiet and happy for a long, long time.
Good luck!
#3
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Thread Starter
Well, looks like I'll be stopping at the hardware store by work tomorrow, and then spending some quality time with my bike in the evening
#4
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I tried teflon tape first for an italian BB that I must have slightly cross threaded - the new sealed unit would work it's way out after 20 miles or so. I ended up going with blue loctite and that's held for about 1000 miles so far (retired for winter.)
When I unthreaded the BB instead of just re-tightening, I saw that the teflon tape had pretty much disintegrated, getting pushed back by the threads... There were a few clumps, but not an even coverage like you'd expect.
Not sure if that helps or not...
When I unthreaded the BB instead of just re-tightening, I saw that the teflon tape had pretty much disintegrated, getting pushed back by the threads... There were a few clumps, but not an even coverage like you'd expect.
Not sure if that helps or not...
#5
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Thread Starter
Here's another question: how about using the tape on the crank interface? Or no-no?
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Ivan,
I don't think tape on the crank-spindle interface is a good idea. Since the Teflon is a solid material, there is a chance that is could bunch up, or get trapped as the crank is installed. Even if this doesn't happen you have put something between two surfaces that are designed as a precise press-fit.
Personally, I am in the habit of smearing a little grease on the square taper before installing cranks - but arguments have raged about whether or not this is correct. I believe the manufacturers recommendation is to install square taper cranks without greasing. In my case, the bikes see the road all year, in all conditions and I prefer all metal interfaces to have some protection against corrosion and seizure. I've never seen any ill effects from this approach with cranks - never come loose, never have a problem removing them. Octalink cranks come with instructions to grease before assembly.
Cheers,
Ed
I don't think tape on the crank-spindle interface is a good idea. Since the Teflon is a solid material, there is a chance that is could bunch up, or get trapped as the crank is installed. Even if this doesn't happen you have put something between two surfaces that are designed as a precise press-fit.
Personally, I am in the habit of smearing a little grease on the square taper before installing cranks - but arguments have raged about whether or not this is correct. I believe the manufacturers recommendation is to install square taper cranks without greasing. In my case, the bikes see the road all year, in all conditions and I prefer all metal interfaces to have some protection against corrosion and seizure. I've never seen any ill effects from this approach with cranks - never come loose, never have a problem removing them. Octalink cranks come with instructions to grease before assembly.
Cheers,
Ed
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Originally Posted by ivan_yulaev
Here's another question: how about using the tape on the crank interface? Or no-no?
#8
Senior Member
Originally Posted by Ed Holland
Ivan,
I don't think tape on the crank-spindle interface is a good idea. Since the Teflon is a solid material, there is a chance that is could bunch up, or get trapped as the crank is installed. Even if this doesn't happen you have put something between two surfaces that are designed as a precise press-fit.
Personally, I am in the habit of smearing a little grease on the square taper before installing cranks - but arguments have raged about whether or not this is correct. I believe the manufacturers recommendation is to install square taper cranks without greasing. In my case, the bikes see the road all year, in all conditions and I prefer all metal interfaces to have some protection against corrosion and seizure. I've never seen any ill effects from this approach with cranks - never come loose, never have a problem removing them. Octalink cranks come with instructions to grease before assembly.
Cheers,
Ed
I don't think tape on the crank-spindle interface is a good idea. Since the Teflon is a solid material, there is a chance that is could bunch up, or get trapped as the crank is installed. Even if this doesn't happen you have put something between two surfaces that are designed as a precise press-fit.
Personally, I am in the habit of smearing a little grease on the square taper before installing cranks - but arguments have raged about whether or not this is correct. I believe the manufacturers recommendation is to install square taper cranks without greasing. In my case, the bikes see the road all year, in all conditions and I prefer all metal interfaces to have some protection against corrosion and seizure. I've never seen any ill effects from this approach with cranks - never come loose, never have a problem removing them. Octalink cranks come with instructions to grease before assembly.
Cheers,
Ed
ve always been able to get a crank off thats been greased, even after many (10+) years.
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Originally Posted by HereNT
I tried teflon tape first for an italian BB that I must have slightly cross threaded - the new sealed unit would work it's way out after 20 miles or so. I ended up going with blue loctite and that's held for about 1000 miles so far (retired for winter.)
When I unthreaded the BB instead of just re-tightening, I saw that the teflon tape had pretty much disintegrated, getting pushed back by the threads... There were a few clumps, but not an even coverage like you'd expect.
Not sure if that helps or not...
When I unthreaded the BB instead of just re-tightening, I saw that the teflon tape had pretty much disintegrated, getting pushed back by the threads... There were a few clumps, but not an even coverage like you'd expect.
Not sure if that helps or not...
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Just as an fyi, for the new Record Carbon BB's:
* Cups are lightly coated with thread lock and should be installed in a dry, clean bottom bracket shell. Do NOT grease or lubricate the threads.
* Campagnolo recommends tightening the cups to 70 Newton Meters (N.m) or 51.66 foot pounds.
* Cups are lightly coated with thread lock and should be installed in a dry, clean bottom bracket shell. Do NOT grease or lubricate the threads.
* Campagnolo recommends tightening the cups to 70 Newton Meters (N.m) or 51.66 foot pounds.
#11
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Originally Posted by ad6mj
Possibly you wrapped it in the wrong direction?
Last edited by DannoXYZ; 12-23-05 at 04:32 PM.
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Originally Posted by DannoXYZ
Yeah, I like to use 2-4 wraps of teflon tape as well (with just very, very light layer of grease on BB). The number of wraps depends up on how loosely the cup fits in the shell, the loser the fit, the more layers I wrap. Important to wrap it in the tightening direction on the threads so that as you spin it into teh BB, it doesn't unravel. The teflon will fill the gap between the threads and prevent creaking noises. Real benefit comes years later when you remove it, no corrosion and no seized threads.
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The only thing I don't know ... and I imagine that Mark Hickey's thought this through ... is whether--given the friction of tightening down a BB--there's any real chance of abrading through the teflon tape, or whether the teflon tape degrades materially over time.
The only reason I wonder about that is the whole "potential for dissimilar metals to gaul" thing. Perhaps the grease provides adequate insurance against that.....
The only reason I wonder about that is the whole "potential for dissimilar metals to gaul" thing. Perhaps the grease provides adequate insurance against that.....
#14
Senior Member
Originally Posted by neil0502
The only thing I don't know ... and I imagine that Mark Hickey's thought this through ... is whether--given the friction of tightening down a BB--there's any real chance of abrading through the teflon tape, or whether the teflon tape degrades materially over time.
The only reason I wonder about that is the whole "potential for dissimilar metals to gaul" thing. Perhaps the grease provides adequate insurance against that.....
The only reason I wonder about that is the whole "potential for dissimilar metals to gaul" thing. Perhaps the grease provides adequate insurance against that.....
#16
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When it's time to do mine, and that time WILL come, I'm sure.. use either blue Loctite, or Loctite pipe sealant, probably 567 will do. Permatex #2 would probably work fine, too. The idea here is to make the threads resistant to turning, and to seal out water and dirt. Either of these three products will do that, and be removable with reasonable force as well. I haven't used teflon tape in probably 15 years, it's not up to modern standards in the sealing industry.
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I like to start cups without the tape almost halfway then add the tape.
#18
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I've got tape on the cups and the pedal threads now...we'll see how it works out tomorrow...
#19
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Originally Posted by San Rensho
For crucial parts, will the tape affect the accuracy of the torque setting measured on a torque wrench?
#20
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It will, however, affect the way the fastener holds. The teflon will prevent leaks in liquid piping systems, by virtue of taking up the space between the threaded elements. It's what it was designed to do. If you want a product that will prevent threaded fasteners from loosening, you really need something else. The Loctite blue is designed to prevent threads from unintentional loosening due to vibration, rotation, etc. It also takes up any space between thread elements, thereby also serving a secondary purpose of sealing out dirt and water, albeit not to as great a degree as the purpose designed sealing agents, such as 567 or permatex #2.
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Originally Posted by chilly
It will, however, affect the way the fastener holds. The teflon will prevent leaks in liquid piping systems, by virtue of taking up the space between the threaded elements. It's what it was designed to do. If you want a product that will prevent threaded fasteners from loosening, you really need something else. The Loctite blue is designed to prevent threads from unintentional loosening due to vibration, rotation, etc. It also takes up any space between thread elements, thereby also serving a secondary purpose of sealing out dirt and water, albeit not to as great a degree as the purpose designed sealing agents, such as 567 or permatex #2.