How do I clean off old Loctite?

[jgelack]

Can someone tell me the best way to clean old Loctite off a bolt before I reapply new Loctite to the bolt prior to installing it? Thanks

 

[Wamsutta]

What I do is clamp a needle into a pair of locking pliers and use the pliers as a handle to control the needle. Then I start breaking the Loctite up with the needle. The routine always reminds me of when vinyl records were being tracked by a phonograph needle before the invention of music CDs.

 

[jrockford]

Acetone should work.

 

[d.mcfarland]

Thread chaser.

 

[Wamsutta]

Acetone should work.

I tried submerging bolts in a jar or carb cleaner and carb cleaner is mostly acetone. Doesn't work. I may try M.E.K. sometime.

 

[scooternut]

I use a lot on my dirt bikes. I use thread chaser or restorer as mentioned earlier. The craftsman set is offered at a nice price when on sale. I


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[FunkyfullWidth]

Just hit it with a wire wheel. No need for any surgical equipment. Thread chase it if you really need to but i've never had to after a good run with a wire wheel.

 

[red94chev]

Quick hit on a wire wheel is what i do.

 

[Bagherra]

Just hit it with a wire wheel. No need for any surgical equipment. Thread chase it if you really need to but i've never had to after a good run with a wire wheel.

This!

 

[mbshop]

Tap or die on really small stuff, wire wheel on larger stuff using a light touch.

 

[Roobaix]

Wire wheel, wire brush, or a thread chaser is what I always use.

 

[dnschmidt]

Doesn't everybody have a wire wheel on a cheap grinder reserved for this purpose? Hold the bolt in a Vice-Grip and give it the business with the wire wheel. Done it that way since the invention of Loctite. Another way is to burn it off. It's just plastic. Take a torch to it and burn it off

 

[rpcraft]

I use brake cleaner or acetone on a rag on the fasteners and will usually thread chase the nut's or run a tap through the tapped holes while I am cleaning up whatever the bolts go into. Once I am satisfied I have run all the threads once I'll also give them a squirt of brake cleaner than shoot them out with an air nozzle and give them a bit to air dry before starting any assembly. It's usually enough time to take a little break, clear the vapors out of the work space, and then proceed without inhaling too many fumes.

 

[jl4c]

Another way is to burn it off. It's just plastic. Take a torch to it and burn it off

Red loctite breaks down at 350F so don't overdo it.

 

[T45]

thread chasers work a treat, also wire brush+brake cleaner

heat, power tools, and sharps...etc... are fine but run the risk of damaging harware. that may or may not matter to you, but since you are asking the question it seems you want to keep re-using existing hardware...eithe for cost or convenience reasons.

also, clean the bolt with solvent so the new loctite sets correctly...they are somewhat sensitive to contamination...

I think OP has gotten overal a pretty good mix of views so far in this thread...so pick whatever you think fits your workflow and just be careful with methods that need a bit more care.

 

[Wamsutta]

The needle method works very well if you're patient and have reading glasses on. The bolt goes in one pair of vice-grips and the needle goes in another pair of vise-grips. Grip the bolt by the head obviously. If you're OCD you will enjoy it. A wire brush cleans off the broken Loctite fragments.

 

[tr0n]

i can't imagine how many hours you guys must spend on transmission jobs...

 

[cheechi]

Doesn't everybody have a wire wheel on a cheap grinder reserved for this purpose? Hold the bolt in a Vice-Grip and give it the business with the wire wheel.

I came here to suggest you make sure you don't try to use a cheapo ***** grinder a lot of the '1HP' grinders nowadays you can stop a wire wheel with a 1/4-20 and a light touch.

i can't imagine how many hours you guys must spend on transmission jobs...

that's why.

 

[mlum6969]

if its a few, i'll just run it through a thread chaser. if there's a lot, lets say more than 10, i'll take them to the wire wheel.

 

[T45]

Can someone tell me the best way to clean old Loctite off a bolt before I reapply new Loctite to the bolt prior to installing it? Thanks

OP doesn't sound like he's doing these by the dozen...

 

[dadsEH]

Why clean it at all . ( it had to be said )

 

[WWheeler]

I sometimes hit them with a wire wheel if I'm not pressed for time at all and/or I'm just being nit-picky, but mostly just add a drop of new loctite to the old dried loctite and tighten it up. Never ever been a problem. Been doing it that way for decades.

 

[jgelack]

Thanks guys for all the great suggestions. I will just hit them with a wire wheel for now, but I think I will pick up some thread chasers in the future. Thanks again