I noticed that the front of my 2 piece base is loose again. I have had this problem before and had added blue loctite and now the base is loose again. Does anyone have this problem? I think it could be the cleaning agent eating up the loctite. Are there some ways to prevent this from happening again?
Rifle Scopes My base is loose again...
- Thread starter turbohardtop
- Start date
Re: My base is loose again...
Are you SURE the front base holes are deep enough and you're able to fully tighten down the screws (not bottoming out)?
I had an instance where the screw was bottom out on the barrel threads and eventually it would vibrate out. Chased the hole with a tap and deepened it just enough so the screw wouldn't bottom out. I could have shortened the screw a smidge and accomplished the same thing.
Are you SURE the front base holes are deep enough and you're able to fully tighten down the screws (not bottoming out)?
I had an instance where the screw was bottom out on the barrel threads and eventually it would vibrate out. Chased the hole with a tap and deepened it just enough so the screw wouldn't bottom out. I could have shortened the screw a smidge and accomplished the same thing.
Re: My base is loose again...
I am pretty sure the holes are deep enough. I can tighten it pretty good and feel the bases are held on tight. Until I take it for a few outings then it gets loose again.
I am pretty sure the holes are deep enough. I can tighten it pretty good and feel the bases are held on tight. Until I take it for a few outings then it gets loose again.
Re: My base is loose again...
try putting some lock tight on the threads, i have a Night force unimount that kept coming lose. after the locktight i have never had an issue. i dont know how hard it would be to take the screws out if you ever needed to but im sure it is possible.
try putting some lock tight on the threads, i have a Night force unimount that kept coming lose. after the locktight i have never had an issue. i dont know how hard it would be to take the screws out if you ever needed to but im sure it is possible.
Re: My base is loose again...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbohardtop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am pretty sure the holes are deep enough. I can tighten it pretty good and feel the bases are held on tight. Until I take it for a few outings then it gets loose again. </div></div>
Just to make sure, put the screw in without the base and see how much of the screw sticks out when it bottoms out. Also check the screw fit into the hole. Maybe the hole is on the looser side, if so, try a new screw. If that doesn't tighten it up, might want to consider enlarging to 8-40's.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbohardtop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am pretty sure the holes are deep enough. I can tighten it pretty good and feel the bases are held on tight. Until I take it for a few outings then it gets loose again. </div></div>
Just to make sure, put the screw in without the base and see how much of the screw sticks out when it bottoms out. Also check the screw fit into the hole. Maybe the hole is on the looser side, if so, try a new screw. If that doesn't tighten it up, might want to consider enlarging to 8-40's.
Re: My base is loose again...
what cleaning agent are you using that you think might be eating up the loctite? Its normally pretty impervious to most of the stuff we use for cleaning our bores though acetone is used in some solutions and will attack the hardened loctite. Also, how are you getting the cleaning solvent onto the mount? Are the screw holes all the way through the receiver ring where solvent could penetrate from underneath??
I think you may have a marginal screw length as the others noted. Putting the screws in without the mount is a really good idea to find out if the holes are deep enough so try what buffybuster suggested.
Frank
what cleaning agent are you using that you think might be eating up the loctite? Its normally pretty impervious to most of the stuff we use for cleaning our bores though acetone is used in some solutions and will attack the hardened loctite. Also, how are you getting the cleaning solvent onto the mount? Are the screw holes all the way through the receiver ring where solvent could penetrate from underneath??
I think you may have a marginal screw length as the others noted. Putting the screws in without the mount is a really good idea to find out if the holes are deep enough so try what buffybuster suggested.
Frank
Re: My base is loose again...
next time clean them out as best as you can. use a degreaser of some sort in the holes. then use red loctite. blue isnt as strong and its in a spot you can easily head with a soldering iron to get free. give that a try. you could possibly bed the base also.
next time clean them out as best as you can. use a degreaser of some sort in the holes. then use red loctite. blue isnt as strong and its in a spot you can easily head with a soldering iron to get free. give that a try. you could possibly bed the base also.
Re: My base is loose again...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">next time clean them out as best as you can. use a degreaser of some sort in the holes. then use red loctite. blue isnt as strong and its in a spot you can easily head with a soldering iron to get free. give that a try. you could possibly bed the base also. </div></div>
If you use red loctite, you may never get the screw out. I used red loctite for a bolt on my motorcycle and when I tried to remove it, I twisted the bolt in half while the loctite held. Those screws are much smaller than the bolt I twisted off.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">next time clean them out as best as you can. use a degreaser of some sort in the holes. then use red loctite. blue isnt as strong and its in a spot you can easily head with a soldering iron to get free. give that a try. you could possibly bed the base also. </div></div>
If you use red loctite, you may never get the screw out. I used red loctite for a bolt on my motorcycle and when I tried to remove it, I twisted the bolt in half while the loctite held. Those screws are much smaller than the bolt I twisted off.
Re: My base is loose again...
Thanks for all the suggestions...I will check the screw without the base tonite.
Thanks for all the suggestions...I will check the screw without the base tonite.
Re: My base is loose again...
If everything is as it should be mechanically, everything fits together correctly, the threads are good and the screws are tight, you should not be having this issue even without locktite. Locktite is not intended to fix mechanical issues.
A little blue locktite between base and receiver helps with bonding a small amount, but other than that, a little blue locktite on the screw head is plenty if everything else is right.
TC
If everything is as it should be mechanically, everything fits together correctly, the threads are good and the screws are tight, you should not be having this issue even without locktite. Locktite is not intended to fix mechanical issues.
A little blue locktite between base and receiver helps with bonding a small amount, but other than that, a little blue locktite on the screw head is plenty if everything else is right.
TC
Re: My base is loose again...
Strange you keep having it come loose.
1- check the front screw, it might be hitting your barrel threads and just barely holding your base down.
2- clean everything
3 Re assemble with BLUE loctite. Put drops down the center of your base wherever it touches your action. This will somewhat glue down you base when you tighten the screws.
4- after tightening your screws to 15 INCH lbs put a dab of BLUE loctite around the screw head in the base (not in the socket that your wrench goes in, but around the screw head)
This will help eliminate any vibrations you are getting to your base.
DO NOT over tighten the screws, over time they will stretch and loosen if you tighten them too much. Maybe that's what's happening???
Strange you keep having it come loose.
1- check the front screw, it might be hitting your barrel threads and just barely holding your base down.
2- clean everything
3 Re assemble with BLUE loctite. Put drops down the center of your base wherever it touches your action. This will somewhat glue down you base when you tighten the screws.
4- after tightening your screws to 15 INCH lbs put a dab of BLUE loctite around the screw head in the base (not in the socket that your wrench goes in, but around the screw head)
This will help eliminate any vibrations you are getting to your base.
DO NOT over tighten the screws, over time they will stretch and loosen if you tighten them too much. Maybe that's what's happening???
Re: My base is loose again...
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I do not I degrease it before loctite. It is possible that I also have over tighten it. I will try to degrease it and mount it again.
Thanks everyone for the feedback. I do not I degrease it before loctite. It is possible that I also have over tighten it. I will try to degrease it and mount it again.
Re: My base is loose again...
I like BUFFYS idea about getting bigger screws.. But by all means stay away from the RED loctite! Its a permament liquid weld. You will need a torch and have to heat the screw to I think 550deg to get the loctite to liquify. You will end up having a heat signature on your receiver lol. Could be a cool camo job though
I like BUFFYS idea about getting bigger screws.. But by all means stay away from the RED loctite! Its a permament liquid weld. You will need a torch and have to heat the screw to I think 550deg to get the loctite to liquify. You will end up having a heat signature on your receiver lol. Could be a cool camo job though
