Sometimes you just have to say "screw caution" and do it

[swarfrat]

I went to replace a fan in my Ampeg PF-500. DPO had used red loctite on 3mm screws. In all about 14 srews had it - he missed one. Every single one snapped off except the one he missed. I had to make a little centering bushing to slip over the standoffs and drill them out, retap for #6-32 screws. There's a thread over on the M-E-F forums about it.

But access to one of the screws was particularly difficult. It was hard enough to drill, but since I drilled through, I was able to tap from the bottom - there was no way the tap wrench could fit from above. The hole came out smack dab in the middle of the "Caution" label on the bottom, and I here I was tapping the hole. So I guess I just have to say, in this case "Screw Caution" and do it.

 

[PhilHill]

Very appropriate! :laughing7:  And an interesting"thread" to post.  I know, I'll show myself out, thank you......

 

[rgand]

Very appropriate! :laughing7:  And an interesting"thread" to post.  I know, I'll show myself out, thank you......

:laughing11:

Glad you got it all done. I would not use the red locktite when you re-assemble. That stuff is solid. Maybe the blue would do the trick.

The primary drive nut on my Harley frequently came loose. I would torque it to factory specs and a few weeks later it was grinding away on the primary cover again. I finally put it on with red locktite and tightened it with an electric impact wrench. It never came off again in some 100K miles of riding. Eventually I sold that one and got another bike. One time I asked the mechanic who suggested doing that about how to remove one put on that way. He said to heat it with a torch until it glows and back it off with an impact wrench before the crankshaft end gets annealed. Then throw the ruined nut away and replace it with a new one.

 

[PhilHill]

One time I asked the mechanic who suggested doing that about how to remove one put on that way. He said to heat it with a torch until it glows and back it off with an impact wrench before the crankshaft end gets annealed. Then throw the ruined nut away and replace it with a new one.

Yep, that's a Harley mechanic. They have learned over the years that certain things must be done certain ways, and not to be shy about applying brute force when necessary. A Harley thinks brute force is foreplay. :icon_thumright: