How loosen bolt that has Loctite?

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Jul 21, 2006 | 08:10 AM

Cyborg

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From: Lee County, FL

How loosen bolt that has Loctite?

Any advice on how to loosen a bolt that has Loctite? I'm trying to swap my shifter handle, and I can't budge the bolts. They are the allen head ones on a 5.0, and it's difficult to get leverage on those bolts w/ an allen wrench. I cranked on 'em hard, and I'm not short on strength at all, and I can't budge them, so they must be loctited. I know the tube says to heat it up to 500 degrees to loosen it, but there's no way of getting a heat source into that location without doing a lot of damage to stuff. Any ideas?

Jul 21, 2006 | 08:21 AM

Camaroholic

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I'd use a decent quality allen-head socket, a socket wrench, and a cheater bar if necessary.

I find allen wrenches (the little L-doohickeys) to be weak. Allen headed sockets seem to work better for tight bolts.

I know AutoZone carries some that aren't bad. Be sure to get one with a lifetime warranty.

Jul 21, 2006 | 09:19 AM

Cyborg

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Camaroholic

I'd use a decent quality allen-head socket, a socket wrench, and a cheater bar if necessary.

Thanks! Good idea!

Jul 21, 2006 | 05:59 PM

Splitz

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Put the allen wrench of whatever on the bolt...take a trusty hammer and hit the wrench....hard enough...but not TOO hard....that should be enough to break the plastic that Loctite products are made of . All Loctite is is little bits of plastic in a liquid form that bond to screw, nuts, bolts and the sort. Vibrations can also "loosen" some weak Loctite......we use Loctite on Aircraft products...that's how I usually break the loctite when somebody's either used to much of the stuff or the wrong type, or it's really old....