Loctite on connecting rod bolts?

[rrman61]

Putting a 23 hp kohler engine back together after a basic overhaul.being that the connecting rod bolts are so small in diameter is it a good idea to use loctite and if so red or blue?

 

[Powered By IH]

Just use a small drop of blue.

Red you have to heat it before you can remove it, pain in the butt.

 

[DanielW]

I'd recommend 243 if going for the mid-strength (commonly referred to as 'blue') and 263 for the permanent ('red'). Never really had much patience for just calling out threadlock by the colours alone. Lots of different options in many colours. The Loc-Tite company, for instance, makes (among many others) 222, 262, 263, 271, 272, 273 which are all red. And all very, very different. And how 'permanent' they are or whether heat is required is dependent on the fastener diameter and environment they're in.

For your application, I'd suggest 243. mid-strength, removable, and (most importantly) oil tolerant. You'd be surprised at how many threadlockers (especially from off-brands) are not oil tolerant and will quickly degrade in an environment with oil (and not set-up unless every trace of oil and oxide are cleaned off the threads). About 80% of the times I see threadlock being used, it's some generic 'blue' or 'red' off-brand equivalent of 242 or 262. Neither which are oil tolerant, and both which require very thorough cleaning of the threads to achieve anything close to a proper and lasting cure. And usually someone's just slapping it on without any thought or prep. Which is usually fine: For most work anyone's doing in their home shop, threadlock isn't typically required and is only there as an extra precaution. But they might as well be using boot polish for all the effect it's having.

I like to keep a basic standard set of loc-tites on hand: 222, 243, 263, 290, 608, 680. With all those on hand, I pretty much cover 99% of all theadlocking and retaining needs

 

[Fritz Maurer]

Did it have any when you took it apart?

 

[rrman61]

Did it have any when you took it apart?

No but it’s some pretty small bolts that call for just 8 ft lbs of torque

 

[Fritz Maurer]

It's the stretch of a properly torqued bolt that keeps it tight, and that engine is designed with that in mind.

Many small engines are dry torqued without any supplemental locking devices at all....
But there is certainly nothing with loc-tite if that's what you want to do.

 

[Powered By IH]

Do you happen to have an inch-pound torque wrench? That would be more accurate.

8 ft-lbs x 12 = 96 inch-lbs.

Would reduce the possibility of over-torquing or under-torquing.

 

[rrman61]

Do you happen to have an inch-pound torque wrench? That would be more accurate.

8 ft-lbs x 12 = 96 inch-lbs.

Would reduce the possibility of over-torquing or under-torquing.

No just a ft-lb,wrench.but I can borrow or rent one.have an o-Reilly’s close to me.they basically sell the tool to you then refund the full price upon return(their rental system)which is free to the customer