T-Rex 500 loctite or not to loctite

[dhart1099]

My dad and I are just starting the assy of the T-rex 500. What is recommendation on using loctite on plastic parts. A metal screw into a plastic part. Loctite or not to loctite plastic parts.

[cfrank2005]

My dad and I are just starting the assy of the T-rex 500. What is recommendation on using loctite on plastic parts. A metal screw into a plastic part. Loctite or not to loctite plastic parts.
Typically use ca glue for metal screw into plastic part. Threadlock loctite is mainly used for metal to metal fastening, and they come in red, blue and purple, red being the strongest.

[sting35]

Thread locker + plastic = bad. Loctite can cause a reaction in plastic parts and cause them to deform or become brittle or crack. As mentioned above, a little ca is not a bad idea if you are worried about a secure hold.

[dhart1099]

Can i ask a stupid question? What is CA?

[jasmine2501]

Cyanoacrylate - super glue. I use it on my little helis if there's composite parts with screws in it.

[dhart1099]

Got it...Thanks
How permanent is the CA? Can you remove the screws without stripping the heads?

[sting35]

Yep, you can remove them. Because the metal and plastic are non-porous, the glue's hold can be broken with a little effort. Unlike when you use it to join wood to wood where it'll seep into the grain of the wood and you'd be much more likely to break the wood itself than the glue.

[K5JBW]

Are you and your dad 'new' heli pilots? Might want to go easy on the loctite and ca. May be taking those screws back out sooner than ya think.

[B EXTREME]

Generally for plastic parts I just put a small drop of medium CA into the hole where the screw is going into, medium because if needed it gives you time to tighten screws evenly.. for metal parts just a drop of loctite either into the hole or onto the screw..

cheers

[abenn]

My only problem with my TRex 500 was the self-tapping screws into plastic parts were far too tight. I stripped the hex sockets on several of them trying to get them tightened up, and I've subsequently had to Dremel slots into some of them that were in properly to try and get them out (to replace servos) :eek: So, in my experience, they don't need anything to hold them.

But you must use the recommended Loctite on screws into metal.

[Balr14]

Finger nail polish.

[TMorita]

Finger nail polish.

Fingernail polish probably contains acetone (since that's what fingernail polish remover is).

Acetone can melt/deform plastics.

Toshi

[norcalheli]

Fingernail polish probably contains acetone (since that's what fingernail polish remover is).

Acetone can melt/deform plastics.

Toshi
Probably, like lacquer, it has a host of ketones as ingredients;i.e. Acetone, MEK, MIBK, etc. None of which are plastic friendly.

[nasukaren]

Um.... here's another question. Do you locktite or CA nylock nuts? That is, nuts that have a little plastic ring that's supposed to prevent it from backing out? I don't really trust the nylocs to do their job.... but not sure if loctiting them is a bad idea.

Karen

[jasmine2501]

Nail polish will screw up plastic bad... but this isn't your normal plastic.

[sting35]

Um.... here's another question. Do you locktite or CA nylock nuts? That is, nuts that have a little plastic ring that's supposed to prevent it from backing out? I don't really trust the nylocs to do their job.... but not sure if loctiting them is a bad idea.

Karen

I've never had one fail. And yes, putting thread locker on it would be a bad idea. Just have some faith. :p If you're really concerned about it, you could make sure you use fresh nylocks if you have to remove them (to replace a part or something). I do that sometimes. It seems that little bit of extra resistance of 'cutting' in the grooves on a fresh nylock gives me a bit more confidence.