loctite expansion when curing.

[Tmoose]

On another board a fellow describes reliable but 2nd hand info that folks working on aluminum case engines might use Red Loctite to retain a big (3 inch diameter) ball or roller bearing OD, if it is found to be a bit loose, and after curing, the bearing binds up.

One prevalent theory is the Loctite cures and actually compresses the bearing outer race enough to bind up.

Before I ask Loctite, does anyone have any experience with a similar phenomenon?

I think it would take a bunch of force to squeeze all the clearance out of a bearing.

(My whole cloth theory is, //if// they warm the case to hasten the cure, the loctite fill the larger space created in the warm case, and upon cooling the case expansion has a head start on being even smaller than a properly sized aluminum bore would have been. Or, possible contribution when it grabs the bearing in a 'tipped" orientation that binds the bearing when the case cools down)

thanks

Dan T

 

[MintJulep]

Loctite makes a product specifically for retaining bearings.

So there might be a reason to not use the bolt flavor for that application.

 

[Compositepro]

There are some rare polymers that expand upon cure (not just foam-up). I'm not aware of any that are actually commercial.