I just learned the hard way that loctite degrades plastic. Seemed like a good idea to put some loctite blue on the aluminum screws that hold my CH Aero disc cover together. A couple of hours later, I notice that the plastic around several of the screw holes is cracked and falling apart. Duh!
Thanks for the heads-up.
Just out of curiosity… How did you get aluminum screws for your cover? Mine came with plastic screws & inserts. Did your come with aluminum? Inserts, too?
Thanks.
Steve
They are sold as “Chicago screws” or “Chicago bolts” at Home Depot.
Want to know how many hours it took me to find that information and locate the item?
I’m sure it took a bunch, so thanks for sharing.
Are the ones from HD aluminum? Same size as the stock plastic ones that come with the covers?
Steve
it’s much better to just get a set of good nuts to hold the screws in place.
Yep, they’re aluminum and the same size as the plastic ones. they are flat-headed and light. Same as the ones that wheelbuilder uses when shipping the covers.
on another poster’s comment, yes, “Sex Bolts” gets you the internet match, but when you ask for them at Home Depot, they just give you a bemused look.
And to the OP, thanks for the tip. I was about to loctite mine.
I just learned the hard way that loctite degrades plastic. Seemed like a good idea to put some loctite blue on the aluminum screws that hold my CH Aero disc cover together. A couple of hours later, I notice that the plastic around several of the screw holes is cracked and falling apart. Duh!
I knew this from experiencing problems with the same situation at work (i.e. loctite degrading plastic)…and also from the fact that the instructions that came with the cover specifically state to NOT use loctite on the screws for this very reason. You did read the instructions, right 
That said, I discovered at the local specialty screw, bolt , and nut store (yes, there is such a thing) that there is a “paste-like” blue loctite that comes in a chapstick style dispenser. I haven’t tried this yet, but it should make it less likely for the loctite to get onto the plastic. My advice would be to apply a small amount of this to the male threads of the aluminum type fasteners and then be careful about making sure none of it gets on the plastic cover as you assemble the fastener. The problem with the liquid loctite is that it doesn’t harden until it is away from the presence of oxygen (i.e. an anaerobic adhesive), so any excess on the outside of the thread area will tend to flow away and onto the plastic…especially in the wheel cover configuration where the centripetal force of the wheel rotation will tend to “fling” liquid stuff outward.
There are also other types of threadlocker that “dry in place” and that you can pre-apply to the threads. Those also should work…but I haven’t found an easy source for that material yet.
Oh yeah…I’m thinking of getting some of those aluminum fasteners anodized in some sort of “bling” color…
Hope that helps.
What you’re looking for is Loctite 425. Made for use w/ plastics
What you’re looking for is Loctite 425. Made for use w/ plastics
http://tds.loctite.com/tds5/docs/425-EN.pdf
Thanks! It was the regular “blue” loctite (loctite 242) that attacks plastic. I’ll have to try this out.
“nd also from the fact that the instructions that came with the cover specifically state to NOT use loctite on the screws for this very reason. You did read the instructions, right ;-)”
Crap. I knew someone would bust me on that. Instructions are for sissies.
Were you able to find the aluminum “sex bolts” with a 3/8" barrel length (same length as the black, plastic ones the cover ships with)? My Home Depot only have 1/4" and 1/2" length, unfortunately.
Steve
Were you able to find the aluminum “sex bolts” with a 3/8" barrel length (same length as the black, plastic ones the cover ships with)? My Home Depot only have 1/4" and 1/2" length, unfortunately.
Steve
Actually…in my case, with my cover I received a small bag of the aluminum fasteners along with the plastic fasteners. This was from wheelbuilder.com…I guess I was “lucky”
Sorry.
Were you able to find the aluminum “sex bolts” with a 3/8" barrel length (same length as the black, plastic ones the cover ships with)? My Home Depot only have 1/4" and 1/2" length, unfortunately.
Steve
Actually…in my case, with my cover I received a small bag of the aluminum fasteners along with the plastic fasteners. This was from wheelbuilder.com…I guess I was “lucky”
Sorry.
When I got my wheel cover (from Excel Sports?), it came with the aluminum fasteners only. I just noticed one pair is missing from my wheel, so off to Home Despot I go for some Chicago bolts!
… so off to Home Despot I go …
Geez, Ken…it’s been said before that we’re a lot alike, but that’s exactly how I consistently refer to HD.
You must be my East Coast doppelganger or sumptin’…
… so off to Home Despot I go …
Geez, Ken…it’s been said before that we’re a lot alike,
Them’s fightin’ words, for sure.
… so off to Home Despot I go …
Geez, Ken…it’s been said before that we’re a lot alike,
Them’s fightin’ words, for sure.
For you, or for me? Since, as I recall, YOU were the first one to say so…
especially in the wheel cover configuration where the centripetal force of the wheel rotation will tend to “fling” liquid stuff outward.
Just had to throw a big ol w00t! to you for correctly using centripetal force instead of the often misused centrifugal force.
When you replace the one you’re missing, could you tell me what size you end up going with?
My Home Depot had the aluminum “chicago bolts” (they actually called them something different - in a green bag, made by Crown Bolt, one set per bag) in 3/16 X 1/4 and 3/16 X 1/2 (so 1/8" shorter and 1/8" longer than the stock plastic fasteners). I’m guessing you’re using the 1/4" length, but would like you to verify, if you could.
Also, do you tighten the bolt fully into the post (ie. bolt head flush with end of post)? With the stock plastic ones tightened fully, it’s just about right. It seems like an 1/8" shorter post tightened all the way would be too tight. But, I’ve never tried it.
Thanks.
Steve
Just had to throw a big ol w00t! to you for correctly using centripetal force instead of the often misused centrifugal force.
actually… not to pick nits or anything but give him only half a WOOT, since it should be centripital acceleration.
Just had to throw a big ol w00t! to you for correctly using centripetal force instead of the often misused centrifugal force.
actually… not to pick nits or anything but give him only half a WOOT, since it should be centripital acceleration.
Does not F=ma? (the mass in this case is the loctite)