(edit) Loctite melted plastic fasteners

[FJRJOE]

Just a reminder >>>> installed a new windsield on my 2008 FJR

and decided to use loctight on the 2 scews that hold the trim that covers

the windshield screws.The next day the trim piece fell off <the plastic tabs

fell apart *** must have reacted to the blue loctight.Just a reminder.be carefull

were you use loctight>>>>>>>>

 

[Geezer]

Yep. Don't use Loctite, any color, where it will touch plastic.

 

[Bounce]

just like acid, says i!

 

[Jaycen]

:huh:

 

[stormrider]

thanks for the headsup

I did not know it would cause a problem

 

[FJReady]

I believe Loctite makes a thread locker compound that is plastic friendly. #425 IIRC. might be worth checking out.

Loctite 425 description

 

[TriggerT]

It is much easier to use the locktite in the gel stick variety when you are working near plastic, rather than the tubes of liquid.

 

[teerex51]

Well, I'll be doggone... :huh:

I took our standard medium-strength Loctite thread locker (#243, red label) and dropped some on a bit of FJR Tupperware.

Then I wiped it off 5 hours later and it had left no trace whatosever on the plastic part. :blink:

I then dropped the same compound on a cube of insulating foam and on a (headless) plastic fastener from the FJR windshield.

A few hours later, same result... WTF?

 

[NYPete]

Loctite is an anaerobic liquid which only hardens when you remove the presence of air. Possibly the chemical reaction of it hardening is what damages the plastic. Notice that the liquid in the bottle doesn't harden because it's in the presence of the air in the bottle, but if you have some spillage over bottle threads and put the cap on the next time you take the cap off it has hardened on the threads.

NYPete

 

[GAPS]

that is plastic it comes packed in.....?

 

[vabrzn]

Not related to use on plastic, but I used high strength ( red ) loctite on aluminum threads once upon a time and when I took the bolt out, the threads came with it. Use only the blue with aluminum threads now.

 

[teerex51]

that is plastic it comes packed in.....?

Indeed

OTOH, what we call plastic is several families of products: Polypropylene, Polyester, Polyamide, Phenol-Formaldehyde, ABS etc.

Several of these "plastics" are used in different areas of the bike.

The "tupperware" is almost all ABS, but some panels are PA and so is the back of the headlight assy.

Glues and solvents affect different polymers and compounds in different ways.

Stef