Should you put loctite on bracelet screws?

[Perrinyanna]

When i bought my Sub LV from a rolex AD and had it re sized the sales person pulled out a wooden rolex toolbox and removed some links. When he got the correct number of links to be removed he got loctite or thread locking glue inside the tool box. He said its necessary to ensure screw will not work itself out. Is this needed? I think this is the first time i saw someone used thread locking glue on links screw? I think he even over tightened it and gouge a bit the screw head ??

[joe100]

Yep, it's needed. You'll be glad he did.

[Tankbottoms]

Absolutely. A few months after I got my 116610ln, one of the screws started backing out and I got concerned. The Rolex RSC in Beverly Hills used loctite AND said it was how they fixed the problem every time. It seemed weird to me at first, but I trusted them and really didn't want to lose my watch, so I let them. Im happy now and have piece of mind!

[Perrinyanna]

Thanks. For a time i thought he is just paranoid. Except when i saw loctite included in rolex wooden tool box. But how do i remove screws in case i may want to add more links in the future? Will it need ax torque just to loosen the screw?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Perrinyanna

Thanks. For a time i thought he is just paranoid. Except when i saw loctite included in rolex wooden tool box. But how do i remove screws in case i may want to add more links in the future? Will it need ax torque just to loosen the screw?

No, just some mild heat like a hair dryer. It softens the Loctite and then screw will come loose easily.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Perrinyanna

Thanks. For a time i thought he is just paranoid. Except when i saw loctite included in rolex wooden tool box. But how do i remove screws in case i may want to add more links in the future? Will it need ax torque just to loosen the screw?

The link screws need Loc-tite because they aren't really "screws" and do not clamp or tighten anything. They are studs where the threads are the only thing that holds them in. The link floats on these tiny studs.

[77T]

He should not have put it on the screws - but inside the threaded hole that the screw fits into...

But it is safer to have Loctite than to over-torque the screws...

[joe100]

Originally Posted by 77T

He should not have put it on the screws - but inside the threaded hole that the screw fits into...

But it is safer to have Loctite than to over-torque the screws...

Well, yeah, this ^

[kaseri]

As long as the AD used the proper strength of Loctite you should be able to remove the screw by hand without needing heat. In terms of damaging the screw head it's highly likely the AD used a standard watchmakers screwdriver and not the proper "cut-out" style screwdriver. As long as the link is not stiff and moves freely I wouldn't worry about it one bit.

[Mystro]

Make sure you use BLUE loctite and NOT red.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Make sure you use BLUE loctite and NOT red.

+1000

[penfold]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Make sure you use BLUE loctite and NOT red.

Add to confusion, blue loctite comes in a red bottle.


Recommend loctite 221 or 222 (low strength).

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Make sure you use BLUE loctite and NOT red.

yeah this

[onlysteel]

I have had a collection of my watches for 20yrs - Rolex, Casio, Seiko, Timex etc. Never once I added any gluing compound. I just made sure the screws were tight when I got done with repairs and never in 20yrs has anything come loose.

But Never say Never .. you just never know -- Adding loctite will not hurt but do not panic if you do not add loctite. Just make sure they are hand tightened really well and go out and enjoy life!

[kaseri]

There are a lot of different types of Loctite other than the 3 most popular ones (purple, blue, red).

For watches the proper Loctite is #222 (purple). It is designed for fasteners with a diameter of less than 1/4" and is removable with hand tools.

All you need is a drop of 222 Loctite and then tighten the screw until it fully seats and stop tightening. Let the Loctite do the work of preventing the screw from coming loose not the friction created by torquing down the screw.

[ice_lester]

Yup the RSC does it. To prevent the screw for getting loose. And just by wetting it with water the loctite will come loose. If ever you want to add another link to your bracelet.

[jolonghorn]

Two different bracelet screws started coming out on my SubC after removing a link last year. I took them all out and added Loctite. No problems since then on a daily wearer.


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[mjclark32]

Yeah, it's a good idea to have it. I went a couple years without anything and was fine, but had to continually check it. I've got some glue on it now and haven't had an issue with screws backing out since.

[SubGunner]

Hey guys forgive my ignorance, but are the new bracelets really that prone to having the screws come loose? I've worn my 16610 for years, and outside of adding/removing a link every couple years, I've never once had a screw undo itself. Usually once a year I will check and tighten with a screwdriver, but even then they are still secure.

I'm looking to buy a dssd soon, is Locktite going to be recommended?

[HL65]

Originally Posted by SubGunner

Hey guys forgive my ignorance, but are the new bracelets really that prone to having the screws come loose? I've worn my 16610 for years, and outside of adding/removing a link every couple years, I've never once had a screw undo itself. Usually once a year I will check and tighten with a screwdriver, but even then they are still secure.

I'm looking to buy a dssd soon, is Locktite going to be recommended?

I can tell you in my 27 years of Rolex ownership I have never used Loctite nor ever had a loose screw(at least my watches). I have also quite a few new ones and again never a loose screw. If it makes people feel more comfortable then use it. I do check my screws from time to time to make sure there are no loose ones and again have never had an issue.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I can tell you in my 27 years of Rolex ownership I have never used Loctite nor ever had a loose screw(at least my watches). I have also quite a few new ones and again never a loose screw. If it makes people feel more comfortable then use it. I do check my screws from time to time to make sure there are no loose ones and again have never had an issue.

Well, I have had a loose screw (in a band!!! ) so it can happen, which is the point of this thread. I seem to remember other posts where it has happened to other TRF members as well.

Your good luck is no guarantee that it cannot happen to anyone else.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by rmfnla

Well, I have had a loose screw (in a band!!! ) so it can happen, which is the point of this thread. I seem to remember other posts where it has happened to other TRF members as well.

Your good luck is no guarantee that it cannot happen to anyone else.

Well perhaps I will give it a try sometime. I do check my bracelets periodically but one never knows.

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan65

I can tell you in my 27 years of Rolex ownership I have never used Loctite nor ever had a loose screw(at least my watches). I have also quite a few new ones and again never a loose screw. If it makes people feel more comfortable then use it. I do check my screws from time to time to make sure there are no loose ones and again have never had an issue.

Never had an issue here either, many watches over 20 years collecting without it.

[iclick]

Originally Posted by SubGunner

Hey guys forgive my ignorance, but are the new bracelets really that prone to having the screws come loose?

Not in my experience. It's not like I do a lot of band adjustments, usually only one time per watch, but in 43 years I've never had one back out or even come loose. That said it couldn't hurt to use Loctite as long as you use the right strength. I wouldn't use red for sure and the #221 or 222 (purple) is usually recommended but is hard to find in my area. Harley-Davidson lists the #222 in a 0.2 oz. tube for $13 (#99811-97), plenty to last several lifetimes of WIS collecting. It isn't in stock at my local dealership but can be ordered. That said I always have 243 (blue) on hand here so based on favorable reviews here and on other threads I may start using a small dab of Blue from now on.

BTW, I don't understand the need to apply Loctite to the female threads. Could someone offer a practical reason to do it this way? I've used the male threads, which is undoubtedly easier to manage, for decades in non-watch applications and haven't had a problem.

[hbk75]

Originally Posted by iclick

Not in my experience. It's not like I do a lot of band adjustments, usually only one time per watch, but in 43 years I've never had one back out or even come loose. That said it couldn't hurt to use Loctite as long as you use the right strength. I wouldn't use red for sure and the #221 or 222 (purple) is usually recommended but is hard to find in my area. Harley-Davidson lists the #222 in a 0.2 oz. tube for $13 (#99811-97), plenty to last several lifetimes of WIS collecting. It isn't in stock at my local dealership but can be ordered. That said I always have 243 (blue) on hand here so based on favorable reviews here and on other threads I may start using a small dab of Blue from now on.

BTW, I don't understand the need to apply Loctite to the female threads. Could someone offer a practical reason to do it this way? I've used the male threads, which is undoubtedly easier to manage, for decades in non-watch applications and haven't had a problem.

i believe that the main reason why they advise you to only drop the loctite into the female section of the thread is because when you put too much loctite on the male section. it may smear inside the links causing the links to stiffen. i have used quite abit of loctite on the male section of my steinhart ocean vintage military and managed to stiffen up the bracelet links.

you should be fine if you only dap abit of loctite on the male section and screw it in. i do believe that a drop of 242 or 243 may be too much on the female side of the thread. just need a tiny dap on the male section will do fine.

[T. Ferguson]

As I remember, low strength Loctite 222 in the purple bottle is the one most go with, correct?

[iclick]

Originally Posted by hbk75

i believe that the main reason why they advise you to only drop the loctite into the female section of the thread is because when you put too much loctite on the male section. it may smear inside the links causing the links to stiffen. i have used quite abit of loctite on the male section of my steinhart ocean vintage military and managed to stiffen up the bracelet links.

That makes perfect sense and I hadn't thought of it getting on the links when the screw is inserted. I think applying a very small dab of 243 (blue) to the female threads with a toothpick might work, and I don't think it would take much. I would probably hit it with some compressed air first to clean the crud out.

[hbk75]

Originally Posted by iclick

That makes perfect sense and I hadn't thought of it getting on the links when the screw is inserted. I think applying a very small dab of 243 (blue) to the female threads with a toothpick might work, and I don't think it would take much. I would probably hit it with some compressed air first to clean the crud out.

You will be fine if you use only a dap of loctite 243 on the male section and insert it straight. So long you do not wiggle around while inserting, it should not smear around the link joints.

1 drop of loctite 243 on the female section of the thread maybe abit too much for a bracelet screw.

PS: if you are having the older bracelets with hollow links, you will not be affected by the stiff link scenarios.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by Perrinyanna

When i bought my Sub LV from a rolex AD and had it re sized the sales person pulled out a wooden rolex toolbox and removed some links. When he got the correct number of links to be removed he got loctite or thread locking glue inside the tool box. He said its necessary to ensure screw will not work itself out. Is this needed? I think this is the first time i saw someone used thread locking glue on links screw? I think he even over tightened it and gouge a bit the screw head ??

The whole point of using a thread locking compound is to avoid exactly this!

Those tiny screws simply cannot be torqued down enough to ensure security...

[MikeMc]

I am an authorized Rolex retailer with a Rolex trained watchmaker on staff. We see maybe 20 Rolex watches a year with loose screws, some with screws lost. It's particularly critical on the new bracelets to use Loctite on the six o'clock side screw, because it secures the fold over lock. If this is lost, it's expensive, compared to a little Loctite. Rolex has specific Loctites recommended for screws. We are using Loctite 562, but Rolex may have changed that recently. I think it's not worth the risk, especially if you lose the watch because the watch fell off. To remove the screws with Loctite, you have to heat them first, we use a Bunsen burner, and the proper size screw driver.


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