Torque Bracket Screws breaking off?

[alaskastyle828]

I know that after changing a torque bracket/helix there is a proper procedure to fallow on the first ride.

Let loctite set up and after clutch has heated up check and re-torque screws if needed.

I still snapped off several screws. Am I doing anything wrong? Any suggestions?

 

[WyoBoy1000]

I would say you weakened them taking them out or tightened them to much, did you heat it up when you took them out. Had mine apart three times and still holding. O and clean the loctite off the threads before reinstalling.

 

[alaskastyle828]

I did heat them up to pull them out, but I didn't clean off the old loctite. I may have tightened them down to much, but I didn't use an impact on it, just hand tightened with a 1/4 ratchet. I figured that as long as I wasn't rounding off the torques head on the screw I was OK. Because I know those heads round off easy, I've done it trying to take one out.

Thanks for you tips, I will try them.

Did you use a torque wrench when you tighten them down? I found in our service department that Arctic Cat says to tighten to 72 in.-lb, and that means 6 foot pounds at one foot distance on the bar. That's not much.

 

[killerrf]

i just use blue 242 loctite. i would reuse them just a few times then get new screws. i clean the helix threads and bolt threads as much as you can... make sure the moveable sheave is nice and seated to the helix then just snug down bolts. dont need to torque. just snug. let it setup over night and you should be good to go. at least next time you want to take them out you dont need to heat them. blue seems to work good that. never had a screw break or backout yet.... (knock on wood)!

 

[WyoBoy1000]

If the threads are clean, I run them in snug then, once I'm sure there snug I go back over them. You will feel them tighten and then start to twist, once they start to twist you don't want to go any further, if even that far.

 

[kane13]

I torque them to 6ft lbs as you mentioned above , if you do that and use blue loctite you shouldn't break any and they shouldn't back out. As others have said clean the threads before putting back together.

 

[alaskastyle828]

Sounds good. Thanks everyone for your input. I'm going to install another 44/36 Helix from BDX that I have come to really like. It seems to work well for me in the mountains of Alaska. I ruined the last one with the busted screws.

Do you think the billet helix from BDX would have weaker threads in it that the stock helix?