Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Bicycle Mechanics
Reload this Page >

Do I need "loctite green" and "bearing drifts"?

Notices
Bicycle Mechanics Broken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Do I need "loctite green" and "bearing drifts"?

Old 03-16-06, 07:14 AM
  #1  
TCR
Riding Heavens Highway
Thread Starter
 
TCR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sunny SoCal
Posts: 1,778

Bikes: '04 Giant TCR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Do I need "loctite green" and "bearing drifts"?

I'm installing new bearings in my Velomax Tempest front wheel. According to Velomax I need to apply loctite green to the outer race of the bearing that fits on the pressed side of the axle. Is this really necessary? The instructions also show using "bearing drifts" to seat the bearings fully. I don't have the loctite green or the Velomax bearing drifts. I've never installed bearings so I don't know if this stuff is really necessary. Can I just use a socket or something and a mallet to knock the bearing on to the press fit side?

Velomax pdf instructions:
https://www.velomax.com/site/PDF/TM%2...R2%20Front.pdf
__________________
https://vvbc.us
TCR is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 08:23 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
rmfnla's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: La La Land (We love it!)
Posts: 6,301

Bikes: Gilmour road, Curtlo road; both steel (of course)

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 273 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 10 Times in 9 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR
I'm installing new bearings in my Velomax Tempest front wheel. According to Velomax I need to apply loctite green to the outer race of the bearing that fits on the pressed side of the axle. Is this really necessary? No. The instructions also show using "bearing drifts" to seat the bearings fully. I don't have the loctite green or the Velomax bearing drifts. I've never installed bearings so I don't know if this stuff is really necessary. Can I just use a socket or something and a mallet to knock the bearing on to the press fit side? Yes.

Velomax pdf instructions:
https://www.velomax.com/site/PDF/TM%2...R2%20Front.pdf
Overkill.
__________________
Today, I believe my jurisdiction ends here...
rmfnla is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 09:56 AM
  #3  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656

Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!

Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times in 741 Posts
Can I just use a socket or something and a mallet to knock the bearing on to the press fit side?
Use the old bearing in place of the socket as it is exactly the right OD to match the new bearing.
HillRider is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 10:00 AM
  #4  
52-week commuter
 
DCCommuter's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Posts: 1,929

Bikes: Redline Conquest, Cannonday, Specialized, RANS

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
The loctite green will set you back about five bucks, for a quantity that will last you a long, long time in personal use. Buy it, you'll use it all the time once it's handy, and you'll never have nagging doubts. Buying a specialized tool for a one-time use is a different story, you should be able to improvise something that should do an acceptable job.

I would say the difference is between doing a job where you're 99% sure it will hold up, and one where you're 99.99% sure. If you're just working on one bike, and you're the one who's going to fix it anyway, it's OK to cut the corner. The worst that could happen is the bearing loosens and you have to tighten it up later. If you're working on thousands of bikes, and the potential cost of failure is high, you go the extra yard.
DCCommuter is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 12:41 PM
  #5  
TCR
Riding Heavens Highway
Thread Starter
 
TCR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sunny SoCal
Posts: 1,778

Bikes: '04 Giant TCR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Is this the right stuff? (It's green)

LoctiteŽ
90-Minute Epoxy Syringe

https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...011&lpage=none
__________________
https://vvbc.us
TCR is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 01:18 PM
  #6  
Dances a jig.
 
Mchaz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central, Ok
Posts: 402

Bikes: 2007 Surly Long Haul Trucker 54cm (Commuting/Wanna' go tour so bad), 1985 Trek 670 21" (Road), 2003 Gary Fisher Tassajara 17" (MTB), Cannondale DeltaV 600 (commuterized MTB), some junker bikes in my garage

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR
Is this the right stuff? (It's green)

LoctiteŽ
90-Minute Epoxy Syringe

https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...011&lpage=none
NO NO NO!

That is epoxy from the Loctite brand. If you use that, I wish you luck ever getting those bearing out again. What you need is Loctite brand Green variety Threadlocker. The color refers to the adhesive strength of the threadlocker.

https://www.loctiteproducts.com/produ...id=48&plid=695

You might try calling some automotive stores to see if they stock it.
Mchaz is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 01:23 PM
  #7  
darling no baka
 
landstander's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: I come from a place where the nuts hunt the squirrels
Posts: 437

Bikes: Bike Friday New World Tourist, 2005 Trek 520, 2005 Raleigh Companion

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Originally Posted by TCR
Is this the right stuff? (It's green)

LoctiteŽ
90-Minute Epoxy Syringe

https://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...011&lpage=none
No... definitely stay away from that one. I believe that Loctite 290 is what you're looking for.
__________________
Dragon... ATTACK!
landstander is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 01:34 PM
  #8  
I eat carbide.
 
Psimet2001's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Elgin, IL
Posts: 21,627

Bikes: Lots. Van Dessel and Squid Dealer

Mentioned: 25 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1325 Post(s)
Liked 1,306 Times in 560 Posts
Be careful ordering. We use Green Loctite to permanently lock extremely heavy duty industrial components in Hydraulic systems together....we're talking threads in 5000 psi applications. I think our compounds are 642 and/or 648 (whatever is the green one) and it literally bonds the two surfaces (we use this in addition to sprialok(sp) threads). If you're talking about this compund then YES...this is overkill. You would not be able to service any bearing installed with this compound.
__________________
PSIMET Wheels, PSIMET Racing, PSIMET Neutral Race Support, and 11 Jackson Coffee
Podcast - YouTube Channel
Video about PSIMET Wheels

Psimet2001 is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 01:44 PM
  #9  
New Orleans
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,794
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 157 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
I would just use the "weak locktite" it is blue.
You can buy a cheapo bearing tool-like this one-for maybe $5-$10-at harbor freight.Their tools are crude,but they are usually adequate.Luck,Charlie
PS I suspect that the smallest of these bearing pushers wouldn't be too big for your bearing if it has to be driven below 'flush".
I sure agree on the overkill-gluing the bearing in place with threadlock(or EPOXY!!).What kind of bearing would have to be driven in,but might fall out if not glued??Heck,you ought to be able to push it in with your thumbs if that is the case.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
P3160134.JPG (73.1 KB, 23 views)
phoebeisis is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 04:20 PM
  #10  
TCR
Riding Heavens Highway
Thread Starter
 
TCR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Sunny SoCal
Posts: 1,778

Bikes: '04 Giant TCR

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Had to go to an auto parts store to find the green threadlocker.

Why put loctite on a fixed bearing but only grease on a slip bearing? You'd think it would be the other way around.
__________________
https://vvbc.us
TCR is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 07:59 PM
  #11  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 587
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Velomax told me that the locktite was required only on hubs that had been serviced often enough that the bearings would no longer fit snug......I did not use locktite and everything is fine. In the old days locktite "green" was used to refer to a weak capillary grade that could be applied to an already seated bearing by allowing it to wick into the gap. Use any tool that will allow you to seat the bearing only by applying pressure to outer race...do not transmit force across the bearings themselves....sockets, tubing pieces, whatever.....they don't require atomic forces to seat. Have fun, it ain't brain surgery as Sydney might say
fsor is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 08:46 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 415
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
The green loctite I have is called RC680. I have seen used very effectively in some early Bontrager hubs to elimninate creaking. They only creaked because the bearing press fit was not tight enough. I think they claimed that the spoke tension pulling outward on the hub shell increased the bore diameter and that they didn't take that into consideration when designing the hub shell.
Pete Hamer is offline  
Old 03-16-06, 10:10 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 727
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
I love 680 as much as I do 242. A lot!

Helpful tip: Most pivot bearings on any Trek full-suspension bikes (that includes Fisher) are secured with 680. The main (if not only) exception are frames that have a "pinch bolt" of sorts for the bearings, such as the Session 10, Fat Possum, and the new Race Day series.
fore is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.