Jota Crankcase Sealant

Jota1981

New member
Hi, Just split the cases on my 1981 Jota and found the sealant I used last time is a little disappointing. Bits in contact with oil have gone black and crumbly. I used Loctite Master Gasket 518. Mind you last time it was apart was 20 years ago. So, anything better I should be using ??? Thanks Steve
 

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Looks like you applied it as if it was for free! ;)

I use 518 a lot on my brit single, it has the advantage of remaining a little flexible. For Laverda cases, I've used 510 sucessfully for a number of years. A tiny bead, about 1mm, around the outer case edges and around the stud bores is more than enough to seal them reliably.

piet

loctite 510.JPG
 
Ditto Loctite 510. Used it recently on my Jota cases, applied as shown in Piet's pic.
Sets between the joint into a thin, firm film, but remains fluid and is easily cleaned at the exterior of the joints.
Has sealed the cases perfectly, so far.

Tom
 
I use 510 as well.
I've had the same tube for 20 years Thomas, what's the problem?

Paul
510 is not a French red wine that gets better with age.

I already had older storage loctite 638 and 648 that are no longer fully cured.

Loctite products have a longer shelf life than advertised, but some day they age.

Because of some EUR, I don't risk having to dismantle an engine again.

Thomas aus LAU
 
Looks like you applied it as if it was for free! ;)

I use 518 a lot on my brit single, it has the advantage of remaining a little flexible. For Laverda cases, I've used 510 sucessfully for a number of years. A tiny bead, about 1mm, around the outer case edges and around the stud bores is more than enough to seal them reliably.

piet

View attachment 57753
I like to remember how you completed my engine - including applying the sealant. Unfortunately, my engine doesn't have such nice connecting rods:

50645945406_b9eb28fc0f_c.jpg


Of course I know I got exactly what I paid for ...
:ROFLMAO::cool:(y)

Cheers,
Jo
 
OK thanks ... Loctite 510 looks the go. Its anaerobic ... the threebond stuff looks to be a RTV silicone which by my reading is better for sealing large gaps. Hey Piet ... yeah mate I probably do lay it on a little too thick. I hate oil leaks !!
 
Excessive application of sealing compound doesn't do much in the way of preventing oil leaks, but it wreaks havoc in regard to bearing fitment/clamping. If you have some of that crap still to hand, scrape off a larger bit and measure its thickness! This amount is then missing from clamping the crank and gearbox bearings in place. Spun bearings are quite common, usually found in conjunction with a liberal application of gasket goo. Then there is the excess that finds its way inside the cases, blocking oil passages and filters.

Absolute cleanliness and intact sealing surfaces are required to prevent oil leaks, only a minimum amount of sealant is then needed to complete the picture.

piet
 
OK thanks ... Loctite 510 looks the go. Its anaerobic ... the threebond stuff looks to be a RTV silicone which by my reading is better for sealing large gaps. Hey Piet ... yeah mate I probably do lay it on a little too thick. I hate oil leaks !!
It is nothing like RTV silicone.
 
I once had the pleasure of doing a 750 engine, recently rebuilt. With two base gaskets to compensate an over skimmed head and plenty of gasket goo with the two base gaskets. Engine had new pistons, seized solid.

Paul
 
OK thanks ... Loctite 510 looks the go. Its anaerobic ... the threebond stuff looks to be a RTV silicone which by my reading is better for sealing large gaps. Hey Piet ... yeah mate I probably do lay it on a little too thick. I hate oil leaks !!
I had an Alfa twincam engine destroy a set of newly developed 'hot cams', causing all sorts of soul searching by the developer as to the hardening process.
It was only after it ate a second set that we dropped the sump and discovered the oil pick up strainer was almost completely blocked by a spaghetti clump of silicone bead which resulted from an OEM over-enthusiastic application of sealant.
The pump was maintaining pressure but with critically impaired flow.
Remember, while you're wiping the bead off the outside of a crankcase, there's one the same size on the inside that may fall off inside, later.
 
Loctite 572, horrendously expensive, piss thin, but specificately a flange sealant, one tube has lasted me far too long, I wish I could test that its not past its sell by date, its as big as a family jumbo toothpaste tube.
CLEM
 
Remember, while you're wiping the bead off the outside of a crankcase, there's one the same size on the inside that may fall off inside, later.
That's why Piet recommends a thin bead on the outer edge of the cases.

Similar oil issue if flakes of cam adjuster wheel gets into the rocker spindles of an SF - ugly cam outcomes!
 
I wish I could test that its not past its sell by date, its as big as a family jumbo toothpaste tube.
I don't think you should be using it as toothpaste. Although I suppose it could seal up the spaces between your teeth and prevent plaque forming in there.

Apparently that Loctite stuff is oil-soluble in its liquid state. Any sealant that gets squeezed out of the joint on the inside of engines will be washed away by oil circulation once the engine is running. So even if you apply too much, the squished-out excess won't block oil galleries. Remember that it sets anaerobically. There's air inside the engine, so any exposed blobs or dribbles will remain as liquid after the stuff inside the joint has set.
 
Correct Cam,

It is oil-soluble, with very little to no excess to be found in engines that for some reason have to be opened again. Does afford peace of mind, compared to silicon-based sealants!

A thin bead will result in thicknesses of less than 0.02mm If applied liberally, as in applied with a brush, thickness can be as much as 0.2mm! This stuff will not flow readily under pressure, the more you apply, the more will remain in the joint. As in my photo, the sealant will only just appear externally when the cases are buttoned up, hardly anything needs to be wiped off. Of course, this does mean the joint surfaces need to be in perfect condition. I prepare them with a fine oil stone to keep them flat and square. Loctite offers other products that are suitable for reclaiming buggered sealing joints.

I haven't had any issues with Loctite products that have reached their use-by date. Some do seperate from their solvents and require a bit of kneading before squeezing from their container (518 e.g), haven't noticed this with 510 (probably because it's in constant use and doesn't get that old...).

Bloody expensive stuff, I buy it in bulk 500gr. tubes, which is loads cheaper than the workshop sized 50gr. bottles.

Another very handy Loctite product is 572, used as a thread sealant on oil plugs, etc. Just saw Clem has already mentioned it...

piet
No, I don't have any Henkel/Loctite shares... just bloody good products that can be unconditionally recommended!
 
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