Thread Lock - good idea or not?

[Woody]

Had a bit of a creak coming from the non drive side of my crank the other day on a ride - sems that the bolts had come a bit loose.

Have tightened them up (don't have a torque wrench at the moment) to what feels right as don't want to over tighten.

Thinking as I'm in the process of going round tightening everything up would it be a good idea to use some thread lock?

I know it comes in various strengths - what would be a good one for bikes?

Thanks

Chris

[T1berious]

Threadlock is a good idea, was that the chain ring bolts that you had to re tighten?

[Woody]

It was the pinch bolts on the crank arm (non drive side).

Was looking at Loctite 241 or 242.

[upsidedownmark]

You're over thinking the problem, just make them tight. Short of putting a large bar on the end of it, you won't overtighten those with an allen key.

[Woody]

Not so much worried about over tightening (although threading a bolt/crank arm would be a pain) with a small allen key.

Thinking more about the thread lock to reduce the risk of them coming loose.

I need a torque wrench anyway for a couple of other things so will go round a check the torque on my bike.

Was thinking of this for the thread lock:

LOCTITE 248 Stick

[Gren]

Woody said:

Was thinking of this for the thread lock:

LOCTITE 248 Stick

That's the stuff I use. Have used it on chainring bolts and suspension pivot bolts. Easy to use (I tend to apply with a finger) and nothing has come loose yet unless I've wanted it to.

[Rocksteadyeddie]

As a rule chainring bolts don't tend to come lose. I have gone years and years without touching them on some bikes without concern. I think you're overthinking it but a smear of loctite won't hurt.

[lufbramatt]

Threadlock is a good idea. After years of working on cars I hate tightening up bolts on cycles the go into threaded holes in expensive alloy components, so am wary of over-tightening things. A low strength one will be fine. Threadlock usually makes bolts easier to undo as well as it tends to seal the thread and stop moisture getting in there to cause corrosion.