The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk flywheel bolts

putting my flywheel on should locktite be used or is just torqueing good enuff dont want them to come loose

Loctite will allow you to sleep soundly.

Now this right here is one of those questions that if you have to ask it, you've already answered it.
If you're ever worried about needing to put LocTite on bolts, you should always just go ahead and do it.
It's like "The Handgun Rule": Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

There is NO downside to adding LocTite to your flywheel bolts.
-Brad

yep guess ill do it

From my stand point, I have never seen Locktite used on any factory flywheel installation, applying the proper torque value would suffice in my case.
The only down side is if you ever have to remove it. If your flywheel bolts are the shallow head type you may have a problem getting them out if you ever have to. I have seen flywheel bolts that were Loctited in that you had to drill out after the heads stripped off. The shallow head bolts are adequate when applying the normal torque but a lot more is required to remove them if you use a locking medium.
But, like the boys above have already said, if you don't feel safe with your threads bare, then use some additional protection!
One other thing, I'm sure that your aware that there are different grades of Locktite, some is made for a removable joint and some grades are quite permanent, make sure you select the right one.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL

Didn't the engines come from the factory with sheet metal bend-over tab locks? I know they have a tendency to get messed up over the years....I just used an old one as a pattern and cut out some new ones from some scrap sheet metal. I drilled the holes before I cut them down so I would have some extra material to clamp onto. When I bend the tabs over, I KNOW the flywheel bolts aren't going to loosen up.

I love loctite but have a little more faith in a mechanical lock, especially when it's dependent on having clean, oil free surfaces to lock up properly. Just my thoughts!

Dave

Dave,

I do not know about earlier years, but my 54 and later flywheels had a spring-material molded-metal plate between pairs of bolts. These did not have bend-over tangs. There was a cupped surface in the plate that was directed towards the center. There were no lock washers and the heads are quite thin, as described by Denny.

As you suggested, I have always just torqued the bolts with the metal plates in place, and I have never had any problems (but I have had bad dreams about those bolts, and, bolts and tangs on enclosed driveshaft u-joints coming loose).

Next time, I will sleep better by using a version loctite that is made for removable bolts (even though it is probably unnecessary).

Tim

loctite is your friend,,use the blue,,if removing bolts is a problem use some heat and they will come loose...doc

Using quality 6-point sockets also goes a long, long way toward ensuring that the heads won't round off. I don't own any 12-point sockets for this reason. Box wrenches, open wrenches and 12-point sockets are the sure method of rounding bolts.
-Brad

A lot of sockets (even 6 point) have an area right at the mouth that is ground wide so they are easy to drop on a bolt. If you use one of those on a flywheel bolt you are going to have grip problems. Ether get a socket that doesn't have that or grind one down so you get the full grip on the bolt head.

The flywheel bolts on my '46 2 ton had these little metal deals that folded up to prevent the bolt head from turning.

If I hadn't had those, i'd have probably put loctite on 'em.. but I had the tabs, so I didn't.

ya one time when i was a kid a farmer hired me to put a clutch in his tracktor i did remove the flywheel whitch i never did on my chevys got it back together it was knocking right away i new what i did i forgot to tighten them flywheel bolts guess what i was doing the next day yep they do give me nightmares ill just use some tread locker not the heavy stuff thanks for advise

Do believe your correct there Dave, come to think of it I have seen the mechanical locks on the flywheel bolts. They were made for pairs of bolts, in fact now that ya all got me thinkin' bout it, I remember selling them when I was a Chevy parts man half a century ago. I don't think they were used on all engines though. But that sounds like the best solution to me.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL