Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

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Greg_Lewis
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Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Which Loctite do you use for wheels to axles?

I’m making another set of riding car trucks and, while I can machine for a press fit and have always done that in the past, the pain of doing so on my Flexible Flyer lathe (a.k.a. Atlas/Craftsman) is something I just don’t have time for right now.

It looks like the 609 retaining compound would be the one to use. It's supposed to be good for up to a .005 diametrical clearance, which I can hold.

What have you used?
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
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cbrew
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by cbrew »

i use 680 when the application calls for it
If it is not live steam. its not worth it.
optigman
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by optigman »

648 or 638 depending on fit. Those are the highest strength of the 600 series. No activator needed and contaminant resistant. Look on Henkel / Loctite website for the comparison chart. Once this stuff grabs it is done!!! 609 is an older product.
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Trainman4602
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Trainman4602 »

AH YES The wonder glue.

Be a machinist interference fit NO LOCTITE
ALLWAYS OPERATING MY TRAIN IN A SAFE MANNER USING AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKES
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Yes, Dave, we know how you feel about this. I've done interference fits before. But as I wrote above, my floppy old Atlas lathe will not cut consistently no matter what I do. I've been using this thing for over 30 years and I know its limits. Even though it's bolted securely to a very heavy steel stand with a 1/2-inch plate top, I can push on the headstock with one hand and see a precision level or test indicator move. That's just the way it is. Yes, I can come back with some emery cloth and take off the last half thou for a .001 interference fit, but even getting to the .001 without cutting undersize is a challenge. Loctite will save me several hours of work and a possible re-do on an axle.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
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Trainman4602
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Trainman4602 »

YEA until the wheel falls off
ALLWAYS OPERATING MY TRAIN IN A SAFE MANNER USING AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKES
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Trainman4602
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Trainman4602 »

Next time get close and then get a new mill smooth file and bring it to size and finish as well.
ALLWAYS OPERATING MY TRAIN IN A SAFE MANNER USING AUTOMATIC AIR BRAKES
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Fred_V
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Fred_V »

I used it on my Chloe and it's been working for 24 years.
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

HI friends:

THANKS to Chris and Opigman for your recommendations. I'll check them out.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
John Hasler
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by John Hasler »

Trainman4602 wrote: Sat Mar 17, 2018 12:36 am YEA until the wheel falls off
I assembled the T/A for my IH544 tractor with Loctite. It's been handling 50hp for about ten years now.
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by John Hasler »

Trainman4602 wrote: Sat Mar 17, 2018 12:37 am Next time get close and then get a new mill smooth file and bring it to size and finish as well.
I just finished doing that to a part for my power hacksaw project. It works but it's time-consuming and error-prone.
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Greg_Lewis
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Re: Wheels to axles — which Loctite?

Post by Greg_Lewis »

Thanks, Dave, for your suggestions. I've done interference fits before but current conditions point to Loctite as the solution.
Greg Lewis, Prop.
Eyeball Engineering — Home of the dull toolbit.
Our motto: "That looks about right."
Celebrating 35 years of turning perfectly good metal into bits of useless scrap.
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