Loctite - Gear Shifter Bolt

[Ninjitsu]

On my way back from Ottawa this weekend I stopped at a gas station and when I did a quick visual check of my bike I noticed my gear shift lever bolt was hanging by the last few threads. I had removed my gear shift lever to clean the front sprocket guard earlier in the week and thought I had tightened it enough when I reassembled. Should I have used some kind of locking compound on this bolt like Loctite?

http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/10/...r-Blue-242.htm

[boooya]

I blue lock-tight everything.

[frekeyguy]

Yes....+1 to blue locktite everything.

especially critical hardware - what on a bike isn't critical though

[JohnnyP636]

Its a good idea but not required if you tightened it properly....Those do not come with any locking compound from the factory...

[m.breen]

Blue locktight.

[Aloha Snackbar]

Its a good idea but not required if you tightened it properly....Those do not come with any locking compound from the factory...

Pulled out the stock one on my R6 and it had red LT powder/crust all over it... some do some don't. I stick with blue when i re-install.

[CruiserGoneSport]

Blue locktight.

+1 Don't use red unless you like the blueing effect of torches required to remove it later....

[konix]

I blue lock-tight everything.

+1, i always loctite.

[toysareforboys]

Pulled out the stock one on my R6 and it had red LT powder/crust all over it... some do some don't. I stick with blue when i re-install.

My 08 R6 was also loctited from the factory

-Jamie M.

[daught]

Does the 243 work a lot better than 242 with somewhat dirty parts?

[JohnnyP636]

Pulled out the stock one on my R6 and it had red LT powder/crust all over it... some do some don't. I stick with blue when i re-install.

I was speaking specifically about the OP's bike, which is listed as a Ninja 250R so I stick to my comment those do not come with any loctite from the factory...No Kawi I have ever owned does, and no Kawi I ever owned needed it, if like I said you tighten it properly...And I have build quite a few of them from the ground up

OP also mentioned loosening it, so again "its a good idea but not required if you tightened it properly"

[Wingboy]

Never loctite any of the fairing panels.

[kneedragger88]

If in doubt locktite but I am with MrP on this. They dont come locktited and they generally dont come out. My guess is it either wasnt tight in the first place or the threads were stretched and you need a new bolt.

[Stewart]

sounds like he did it up by hand and went to tighten something else forgot to use the wrench on the shifter, right?

[CruiserGoneSport]

Never loctite any of the fairing panels.

Good point, only use on metal.

[Vlad]

Its a good idea but not required if you tightened it properly....Those do not come with any locking compound from the factory...

+1 Add a spring washer if you want to make sure it stays put, but it's not really necessary if it's properly tightened.

I use blue Locktite very sparingly, red practically never. It's a much better practice to check your bolts once a year than to Locktite everything, IMO.

[CruiserGoneSport]

Good tip.

I reuse a technique i learned from RC Helicopters (high vibration environment). A little aliphatic resin (carpenters glue) holds screws in ABS, fiberglass etc. well enough without causing problems when you do want it out....

[Vlad]

A little aliphatic resin...

ALI-what?!

(carpenters glue)

Ahaaaaa...

That's a good tip, thanks. Carpenter's glue is not chemically aggressive and shouldn't harm any metal or plastic. It dries transparent too, which can be a plus in many applications.

[CruiserGoneSport]

actually, if you get "Crafters Glue" or "RC Canopy Glue" it's a little more pricey but does dry transparent and has similar properties.

[Vlad]

^ Good to know, thanks again. We learn something new every day.