Loctite or Anti-seize on MTB fasteners

[Engineeeeeeeeer]

This is a question relating to the assembly of my personal mountain bike, and I thought that I'd try for some educated answers in this forum rather than from teenagers who don't really know what they are on about on an MTB forum.

I am in two minds whether to apply loctite or anti-seize compound to the threads during assembly of my new mtb (Yeti 575). A lot of the bolts are a different material from the female thread thus I think it is absolutely necessary to use a compound.

For my engineering job, I have had great success using 'Copaslip' grease on st/st fasteners and I am considering using this on the mtb, however I also hear of people using loctite.

Any opinions anyone?

Thanks.

 

[MikeHalloran]

Use a dab of anti-seize, _and_ a dab of Loctite Pipe Sealant with Teflon.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[Heckler]

I use Loctite C5-A Anti-Seize Compound on my mtn bike. Just be aware loctite threadlocker (222/242/243/262/603) outgasses so using it around plastics and some composites could create more problems then it fixes.


Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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_`\(,_
(_)/ (_)

This post contains no political overtones or undertones for that matter and in no way represents the poster's political agenda.

 

[Surestick]

In my experience it depends on the fastener.
A torque wrench, the various manufactures' torque specs and the appropriately sized hex bits is probably more important than the specific compound you choose.

For brakes blue Loctite but for a lot of other fasteners regular grease or, depending on the materials, an anti-seize compound are preferred (especially in the case of titanium fasteners in aluminum parts IIRC).

There are some places where you would not want to use Loctite, either because you are going to be undoing the fastener a lot or the force required to undo the Loctited part could damage something. Water bottle "braze-ons" are an good example of this: On some aluminum frames they are pressed in. I've had them come loose in the frame when over tightened.

FWIW I've never had issues with properly torqued parts coming loose due to vibration on a bike. I suspect the use of Loctite on brake mounting bolts is more of a legal just-in-case measure than anything else.