Check your bolts!
 

Hey guys.

I have been having some rattling from one of rear panniers for about a week now, about 100 or so miles. At least I thought it was the pannier mount. I usually have them zipped tied in several places, but haven't lately, so I figured they were just not mounted as tightly due to that. Well, I was just about to leave this morning when I saw that one of the lower rack mounts was missing a screw! The other three mounting points had screws, but were all very loose. It could have been quite a site seeing a rack and panniers fly off the bike at 30 mph if I hadn't noticed. Luckily I had another bolt that fit and was out the door a couple minutes later. Loctite tonight!

Loctite = good.

Yeah my handlebars came loose yesterday on the way home :eek: ... not loose enough to be dangerous or anything, but as I was slowing down coming up on a light my weight leaned more onto my arms and I felt 'em shift. It was my adjustable stem, I had raised the stem angle a couple weeks ago and I guess I hadn't quite torqued that bolt down tight enough. If it comes loose again I'll be getting out the loctite too :).

loctite?

loctite--a brand of thread locker. Keeps bolts and screws and such from coming loose because of vibration, heating and cooling cycles and the like. Indispensible for the DIY bike mechanic. (And, I suppose, for the shop wrench too.)

There are several kinds. Don't use the one that is meant to be permanent unless that's really what you want!

Any auto parts store and most "real" hardware stores will carry it (not sure about Home Depot and Lowes though). There's "Medium" and "High" strength (as well as a zillion specialized versions like cylinder sleeve adhesive). "Medium" means you'll be able to get it out with some minor cursing, "high" means get a drill, it ain't coming out. :D.

Locktite is one way to deal with it (non-permanent stuff, obviously). But lock washers is another way to solve the problem. I use lock washers or nylock bolts on all accessible bolts, including those that hold fenders, racks, etc. Our many potholes, plus rides on gravel are an excellent way to see whether or not there are loose bolts.

Sounds like an experience I had while on tour. My quick fix solution (until I could find a LBS to help out): wire to hold the rack in place. Worked like a charm! :D

Blue loc-tite = good
Red loc-tite = most of the time, too much good

Fingernail polish also works as a loc-tite

Hear hear! I like your style.

People say it'll damage your threads but if fingernail polish can damage the threads on your bolts, you needed new bolts anyway.