will loctite solve my droop problems?

Burnham Bob

Burnham Bob

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 Jul 2009
Messages
1,803
Location
Burnham on Crouch
Visit site
my tiller goes to a boss on the cockpit floor. it rests on a small platform screwed onto the boss with a single large screw. trouble is the screw works loose, the platform tilts downward with the weight and my tiller droops (stop giggling at the back!).

a recent bodge with sikaflex worked for a while - lots of it where the platform meets the boss hoping it would stick - but i'm drooping again.

maybe i should fill the screwhole with sikaflex, whack lots of ordinary silicone everywhere possible or use loctite. trouble is of course the screw drives everything out of the thread so adhesion is minimised.

anyone got a solution to my embarrassing problem ( the tiller pilot won't stay on..........)
 
Araldite, or similar epoxy adhesive. If you need to remove it, a warm air gun will soften it enough to do the trick. The wheel on my last boat wobbled very slightly on its shaft, which annoyed me - I glued it on, no wobble, and was able to remove it when I needed to.
 
By screw do you mean something like a wood screw that's pointy on the end and goes into but not through the thingy that holds the tiller or a bolt IE flat end that goes all the way through and has a nut on the end (no I'm not referring to the person holding the other end of the tiller).

If a pointy, screw thing then I think epoxy or something is the best option without modifying the hardware. Loctite thread locker I don't think will work in this situation. If a bolt then have you tried lock washers, Nylok washers or something to hold the nut on tight? If it is a screw can you drill all the way through and use a bolt instead?

PS

I would caution against silicone (called by some sillycone). If used on anything vaguely absorbent like wood and even fiberglass, the silicone oils will penetrate the material making it almost impossible for anything to ever stick there again, even more silicone.
 
Last edited:
Bolt into a threaded hole is ideal for Loctite, IF the threads aren't stripped off the bolt or in the hole.

If you want it to be pretty permanent use Loctite 271, Red high strength. If the bolt and hole are stainless or aluminum (you know, aluminium) Loctite calls those inactive metals and you will need to use the Loctite primer, either 7471 or 7649. Sorry I'm not sure what the difference is between the two primers so I just use the 7471 which I happen to have on hand.

This will be pretty permanent but can be removed with heat. This combo will also close a pretty good gap in case something is a little stripped out.

OR as pvb suggested, try a good grade epoxy.

Still if you can drill through and put a nut on the other end that would be the best solution. Not really got a mental picture of the assembly so this may be a silly suggestion.
 
Burnham Bob said:
my tiller goes to a boss on the cockpit floor. it rests on a small platform screwed onto the boss with a single large screw. trouble is the screw works loose, the platform tilts downward with the weight and my tiller droops (stop giggling at the back!).

a recent bodge with sikaflex worked for a while - lots of it where the platform meets the boss hoping it would stick - but i'm drooping again.

maybe i should fill the screwhole with sikaflex, whack lots of ordinary silicone everywhere possible or use loctite. trouble is of course the screw drives everything out of the thread so adhesion is minimised.

anyone got a solution to my embarrassing problem ( the tiller pilot won't stay on..........)
Click to expand...

Photo, sketch or drawing would be useful to understand the arrangement

L
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top