Thread lock

[Pdretired]

Can anyone tell me what smith uses as a thread lock for the revolver cylinders side plate screw. It appears to be a red non-hardening material. Thanks in advance.

[bountyhunter]

Originally Posted by Pdretired

Can anyone tell me what smith uses as a thread lock for the revolver cylinders side plate screw. It appears to be a red non-hardening material. Thanks in advance.

On mine it has the appearance and consistency of some kind of RTV or silicone rubber.

I just use blue Loctite on side plate screws.

[chief38]

There is absolutely NO NEED to use Thread Locker of any type on the side Plate Screws! After owning and shooting Smith Revolvers for almost 40 years I can honestly say I have never had one just loosen up when properly tightened in the first place.

Locktite can get into places that you do NOT want and lock up or restrict movement of other parts. The screw you are talking about keeps the Cylinder in the Frame and sits inside a groove that allows the Cylinder to swing out freely. You do NOT want to restrict movement with any dripping Locktite getting into the wrong areas.

Locktite is a great product - just NOT needed for use on Smith & Wesson Revolvers, IMHO.

In fact I actually take the front screw out of my Smiths to allow for Cylinder removal when I clean the Revolver - every single time I clean the Cylinder! I MUCH PREFER removing the Cylinder for cleaning because it is so much simpler when removed and there is no stress in the Yoke area as there is when the Cylinder remains in the Frame while cleaning.

It also allows me to clean inside the tunnel that the Ejector Rod goes through. I fill the hole with either Rig #2 Oil or Remoil, work the EJ back and forth a few times and dump the dirty oil into a paper towel. You would be surprised how much junk comes out. This takes under a minute and I do it usually 2 times or until there is no more junk coming out. Not only does it clean the cylinder but it lubricates it as well. The two Oils I mentioned above are very thin and they all but evaporate very quickly leaving no messy oily to get on your ammo. A quick blast from an air compressor drives out any excess and then can be reassembled. I have been doing this for 37 years with great success - although I doubt you will find this procedure mentioned in any book or video. It just works for me!

[tcon]

Originally Posted by Pdretired

Can anyone tell me what smith uses as a thread lock for the revolver cylinders side plate screw. It appears to be a red non-hardening material. Thanks in advance.

Probably something like Vibra-Tite VC-3. A small amount is applied to the threads on the male fastener and allowed to fully dry to a semi-flexible coating before using. I do not use LocTite on anything that I intend on disassembling again.

[chief38]

A MUCH BETTER method (as opposed to Locktite) is to just periodically check screws for tightness after a cleaning. It takes all of 20 seconds (use proper hollow ground bits of course) and you will never have a screw loosen again.

Save the Locktite for the Motorcycles!

[ContinentalOp]

One of the side plate screws on my 642-1 loosens regularly, so I do apply a very small amount of blue Loctite directly on the screw thread using a toothpick. I then set it screwhead-side down while it sets to make sure it won't leech into the inner workings. I did the same with my cylinder release latch nut (I actually suspect the bolt of being a little shorter than spec).

It takes very little Loctite; a drop is too much. I just touch the tip of the toothpick to a drop applied on some paper towel or a paper plate and that's what I use.

However, I never use Loctite on the yoke screw or the extractor rod as the risk of it messing up the gun far outweighs any benefit. My grip screw has never loosened so I don't use Loctite there, either.

[tomcatt51]

Originally Posted by chief38

There is absolutely NO NEED to use Thread Locker of any type on the side Plate Screws!

Originally Posted by chief38

A MUCH BETTER method (as opposed to Locktite) is to just periodically check screws for tightness after a cleaning.

??? Isn't this a classic example of circular reasoning? They NEVER come loose but I keep checking them, tightening them in the process.

It's like the strain screws that NEVER come loose WHEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED that every one is also always tightening. Stainless guns being the worst offenders.

I use purple Loctite 222. It's a low strength thread locker appropriate for the thread sizes we're dealing with.

S&W applies thread locker to the yoke screw for a reason.

[chief38]

No I do not think this is "circular", just prudent on anything that has screws. Truthfully, I have never personally had a screw just come loose on a Smith. On a Colt SAA yes, but not on a Smith. I periodically check them, but NOT every time and I can not ever remember having to actually tighten them. The reason I do this is the same reason I check my oil in my vehicles periodically. My cars don't burn or leak any oil, but I still check the level once a month anyway. Someone who reports screws just coming loose under normal firing conditions is more than likely NOT properly tightening them to begin with. MOST "non mechanical" friends I have either leave screws way too loose OR "Gorilla" tighten them. Like anything else in life that we take for granted, tightening a screw, nut or bolt has to be done properly - that is why the Torque wrench and drivers were invented.

I go by what I see and my personal experiences in life. The only Screw I have ever seen that had any amount of thread locker on it (in Smiths) is the front Sideplate screw - and that is only on more recent Smiths made in the last 20 or so years. The older Smiths never came with any and I for good reason - it's just not necessary. I suppose if applying a thread locker makes someone feel better than hey - it's their gun - do what you like. I just NEVER found it to be necessary and find it a solution to a non issue that can actually cause problems. YMMV.

ADDED: If for any reason you do have a screw that is constantly coming loose all by itself, the first thing I would do is replace that screw! Chances are that the threads are worn out and are not fully engaging the female threads. Screw threads can and do wear and develop slop or wobble. That should fix your screw loosening problem without the use of Thread Locker.