Thread locker disaster :(

[rjalex]

I thought I was being smart.
I thought this thread locker was the "soft/weak" type.
I thought putting some on the bolts securing the top frame plate to the metal standoffs was a wise move.

I now have a previously brand new perfect build with all of the eight posts deeply scratched with aliminium showing through the black paint as I had to use pliers to keep them steady as I struggled to unscrew the bolts

What is even worst one of the bolts was so hard to unscrew that after just a few turns the hex head has become "round" and I cannot unscrew nor screw it back.

Best course of action now????

Geez is this frustrating

Thanks

[bLoWsMokE]

I've ruined at least 2 good motors because of over tightened screws..... I had to use two wrenches to try and unscrew so one had to grip the bell of the motor..... the bell actually dislodged and snapped before the screw was even close to coming loose..... total loss. It sucks.

[SnowLeopardFPV]

Drill the screw out being careful not to damage the hole in the carbon fibre top plate. Start with a small drill and work your way up. Once the hole is big enough so the walls of the hole are thin enough, you should then be able to just twist the head of it off with some pliers and remove the top plate from the standoff. Then just replace the stand-offs with new ones.

I've never needed you use any thread locker on the top/bottom plate standoff screws. They never seem to come loose. I only use it for the motor screws.

[iFly4rotors]

As Snow says, If you mess up the head of a bolt, the best option is to drill and out the head of the bolt using a bit that is the same size as the bolt; if 2mm bolt, use a 2mm bit. When the bit hits the bottom of the head, it will come completely off without the need to "grab it". Just be careful and take your time.

Now you can disassemble the plate or remove the component.

NOW...

In the case of a column and bolt, you might be able  get the bolt out with two sets of vice grips. If not,  then the column would NOT be unusable as a two ended column. However, the bolt could be cut off and the column used as an end column to mount GPS above the top deck. Yes, you would need another standoff column for reassembly of the frame. 

In the case of the motor, you can either leave the bolt in {which is what I would do} or
cut the bolt off. The motor doesn't need 4 bolts anyway. However, if you have to do this to all four bolts, the bolts could be cut off and the holes drilled out and tapped. This is a worst case scenario and you have to be careful not to over drill !!!!!

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I use LocTite Blue 242 Removable thread locker and have never had any problems. 

I have used this product for decades on bolts in all sorts of things including quad building, auto mechanics, home repair, eyeglasses, custom projects, etc. 

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Also agree with Snow, I generally only use the LocTite on motor bolts. You only need a very tiny bit. I use a toothpick to apply a very small amount right at the end of the threads; don't squish Loctite all over the bolt.

[rjalex]

I've ruined at least 2  good motors because of over tightened screws..... I had to  use two wrenches to try and unscrew  so one had to grip the bell of the motor..... the bell actually dislodged and snapped before the screw was even close to coming loose..... total loss. It sucks.

Feel you pain my friend

Update. I managed to use my Dremel mini and cut the bolt's head so I could extract the standoff.

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I've never needed you use any thread locker on the top/bottom plate standoff screws. They never seem to come loose. I only use it for the motor screws.

Now I know Thanks

[rjalex]

I use LocTite Blue 242 Removable thread locker and have never had any problems. 

I have used this product for decades on bolts in all sorts of things including quad building, auto mechanics, home repair, eyeglasses, custom projects, etc. 

I've been cheap and bought a German knockoff. My bad. Will buy the Loctite original for the future.

Thanks a lot

[iFly4rotors]

Hi rjalex,

Well, now just grab another stand off from your parts bin and you are good to go, but don't use that German stuff; better to use nothing. I don't normally use LocTite on the frame bolts. Another trick is to use slightly longer bolts and a washer; then just tighten as much as you can by hand, but don't over do it.

Periodically, I check all of the bolts just to make sure they are still tight.

Also, I generally use knurled stand off columns; the grooves have a better gripping surface.

[rjalex]

Thanks IFly4Rotors!!!

I don't have spare standoffs. Must order them. What should I look for? Knurled aluminium FPV standoffs M3x30 ?

I also need to get some spare bolts for those. I think they are M3x10 ...

I did manage to get the locked one back in usage, so it's just mostly an aesthetic thing right now.

Thanks a lot.

PS I also need to find longer motor screws. Are those also M3?

[Fiction]

Heat should help remove thread lock but might not be so good for surrounding parts.

[rjalex]

Thanks @Fiction. Brute force, bad temper and some swearing did it too Luckily family is away at school and work so I am not going to spill my mood over them poor innocent people

[iFly4rotors]

Hi rjalex,

Being in the USA, stand offs and bolts can generally be found at most vendors. Also, I buy a lot of the bolts from AMAZON because they offer a wider selection than the specific sizes used to build quads. eBay also has a lot of bolts, but I don't buy much from them.
I know you are outside the US so I don't know where would be a good source nor what your options are. Do you have an AMAZON connection over there? 

Be careful with the motor bolts. If you get them too long, they will stick up and hit the spinning stator and damage the motor; you don't want that. They shouldn't stick up through the motor mount {or at least not very much}.

[rjalex]

Yep that I understand, thanks a lot. The current bolts are perfectly flush for the motor mount and the 4mm think arms but as Saint @SnowLeopardFPV is sending me a XMas present that will add 1.5mm thickness I need to find such longer bolts.

PS Yes Mr. Bezos sells also over here and makes a lot of money from my household

[hugnosed_bat]

i had this problems many times, i never had to drill so i thought i could share my way;
take torx in the same size or a bit bigger
bring the bit in with a hammer, not so much force needed on this sort of screws.
just screw it out.

its easy and worked even on bended screws/ standoffs, doing a torx out of it give ability to add much more force.

[rjalex]

I used a pipe wrench such as this https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c...wrench.jpg on the column and a plier on the bolt and managed to separate them. Thanks for the tip !!!

[iFly4rotors]

Hi rjalex,

Here is a set of links to get you started. Standoffs are available in quite a range of sizes, styles, and colors. In addition to the "formal" quad standoffs, I also have both brass and nylon standoff kits. As an interesting note, standoffs that are shorter than 12mm generally have through threads and can be "stacked" on through bolts. The longer standoffs normally only have threads on the ends. I also had non-threaded spacers which come in handy from time to time.

Here are some smooth, black, ones that look just like what you have.

3mm Standoffs in assorted colors and both 20mm and 35mm lengths.

These ones have hex sides so you can get a wrench on them in assorted sizes.

I also have these or these which come in handy, plus you can get a wrench on them. Yeah they are not your standard standoff columns, but they do work. This type also comes in nylon which are useful in some applications.

Just in case you need to tap a hole, here is a set of taps.


There is a wide assortment of M3 bolts either a single size or in kits with a range of sizes. I have purchased both from time to time depending on what I need {ok, mine are M2 bolts, but the concept is the same}.

  M3 Titanium,  I also have bolt "kits" like this one {there are a variety of kit with different sizes and amounts}

Now you just have to decide which ones you are going to buy and what you want to keep on hand; just in case.