Thread sealer confusion

[LincolnSteve]

Hi. Can you help me get over my confusion about what product to use for sealing threads. I'm working on my steering box at the moment and the bolts for the bottom plate need something to seal them. The manual says to use Wellseal and I see it is available on ebay and not too expensive. Another option is something from the Loctite range. I already have some 270 thread lock and 75 retaining compound. I find the Loctite range far too complicated with the descriptions of the products all sounding the same also they are often very expensive. Last option is Blue Universal Hylomar. It says it can be used as a thread sealer and i've already got loads of that.

So what do you all use?

Thanks.

 

[BikerB]

Wellseal is a product mainly used on bikes to seal cases as a sealant rather than a locking material etc, I use it on my classic bikes and it works well. Never seen it used as a thread sealer but doesn't means to say I am right about this.
Normally I would paint two coats on mating surfaces, leave till tacky and assemble.
Does the manual say how it is to be used?

 

[Colthebrummie]

Loctite. Just get the basic stuff, it's all more or less the same. We used it when I was a grease monkey many years ago but to be honest, I don't use it anymore myself cos I just do stuff up tight.

Col

 

[Blackburn]

The bolt is a coarse thread and the holes are not all blind so sealer definetely needed to keep the oil in ,have seen blue hylomar on units I have stripped so should be ok. .

 

[jamesmartin]

Hi. Can you help me get over my confusion about what product to use for sealing threads. I'm working on my steering box at the moment and the bolts for the bottom plate need something to seal them. The manual says to use Wellseal and I see it is available on ebay and not too expensive. Another option is something from the Loctite range. I already have some 270 thread lock and 75 retaining compound. I find the Loctite range far too complicated with the descriptions of the products all sounding the same also they are often very expensive. Last option is Blue Universal Hylomar. It says it can be used as a thread sealer and i've already got loads of that.

So what do you all use?

Thanks.

hylomar or a smear of silicone sealant

 

[LincolnSteve]

Wellseal is a product mainly used on bikes to seal cases as a sealant rather than a locking material etc, I use it on my classic bikes and it works well. Never seen it used as a thread sealer but doesn't means to say I am right about this.
Normally I would paint two coats on mating surfaces, leave till tacky and assemble.
Does the manual say how it is to be used?

Step 33. Just apply to the threads.

 

[LincolnSteve]

Thanks everyone for the advice. As I have silicone and hylomar in stock that's the way I will go. I don't like spending extra money if I can help it. I'm tighter than a camels bum in a sandstorm.

 

[TheMegaMan]

It seems to be these products to a different job - do you want to ensure nothing can ooze past the thread, or do you want to make sure the bolt doesn't come loose? If you're trying to make it oil-tight, Hylomar should do the job, but you might also want to use a spring washer, as it won't necessarily be fulfilling the thread-lock purpose so well.

 

[LincolnSteve]

It seems to be these products to a different job - do you want to ensure nothing can ooze past the thread, or do you want to make sure the bolt doesn't come loose? If you're trying to make it oil-tight, Hylomar should do the job, but you might also want to use a spring washer, as it won't necessarily be fulfilling the thread-lock purpose so well.

It's definitely sealing I need. Sorted for locking and securing.

 

[rob1miles]

I used hylomar on mine when I shimmed it.

 

[LincolnSteve]

That's another point actually. When there are shims involved where do you put the sealer. Between every surface? Both ends, shims and plates? If not how does it ever seal, if so how does it not mess up the shimming?

 

[lynall]

Got to say the loctite green stud locker is bloody good gear, I use it on all sorts, air/hydraulics even studs sometimes! etc, cures fast as well.

 

[LincolnSteve]

So does that lock and seal as well? I guess if it fills the threads to lock them in place it must stop anything coming through as well?

 

[lynall]

So does that lock and seal as well? I guess if it fills the threads to lock them in place it must stop anything coming through as well?

It is decent gear, wall mounted airline fitting bsp thread at work been leaking for years, other day I thought thats it I am going to fix that bloody thing, strip it down, all threads and face seals with stud lcoker and voila no more air leaks, 6 years that has been like that! one guy had wrapped pvc tape around the outside in an attempt to seal it!
Also use it on leaking air tank fittings on the trucks where the rust has wrecked the face the o-ring would normally seal up to, again remove/clean/reassemble and no more leaks.
Have also used in on threaded hydraulic fittings for the off road vehciles pas sytem cooler.

I have used dedicated thread sealers before (many different makes) they are always the same and take way to long to cure so the end up leaking.

Good old ptfe tape is also useful.

 

[rob1miles]

Seal on the threads with hylomar and not between the shims, its the same as the rear output shaft shims, just grease them lightly. They are steel shims so there's nothing wrong with them staying oily. If you put loctite on the bolts into the ally you may struggle to get them out next time it needs shimming.. If you seal everything up too well you just risk more corrosion.