I used to think the same thing about Loctite on things that were not as critical as oil or axle nuts. As you know, you have red and blue Loctite. Red being permanent. Neither Loctite should ever be used on titanium. Only special “never seize” meant for titanium. Putting Loctite on aluminum bolts will also end badly. Especially Allen bolts. Even standard steel Allen bolts with red Loctite will be a hassle. As I’m sure you’re well aware of, rounding out an Allen bolt is a hassle. One trick to avoid rounding out Allen bolt’s is to always use fresh, undamaged Allen wrenches with a dab of Valve Grinding Compound on the Allen wrench. The compound takes up the tiny slop between the bolt and wrench. A Hand Impact driver you hit with a hammer is good for breaking loose stubborn Allen bolts. Since you may not know if the Allen bolt has Loctite, it’s better to start with compound and/or the Hand Impact before you bugger up the Allen hole. I don’t really care for Allen bolts. Whenever possible, I replace them with titanium or aluminum Torx bolts. For younger riders, Torx bolts are less prone to rounding out than Allen bolts.
Which gets me to the merits of Loctite. I still use thread locker in certain situations. I prefer “omniFIT 100”. It never hardens. It’s also designed to grip in oily conditions. It’s more expensive, but a tube last for years. Another major benefit is it prevents dissimilar metals from galling together over time. I recently bought the Ducati e mountain bike. Like WSBK mechanic’s, I always take apart a new motorcycle and put it back together properly. As I did the same thing to the e-bike, I noticed every one of the aluminum screws was already galled. It was nearly impossible to remove the factory installed screws. I replaced all of them with titanium or stainless steel. Never Seize on all of them. Most were Philips screws, which I replaced with Torx. I’m belaboring these points for new riders who are under the impression that everything new from the factory is hunky dory. Manufacturer’s have to cut cost someplace, and this is a common place. The owner checks that everything is tight and thinks they’re good to go. Try to take it apart in 3 years and you’ll need a sledgehammer and blowtorch.
I’m not criticizing anyone. I did the same things before I gradually learned about different and better ways. I appreciate anyone who offers a better way. I love learning a new trick of the trade. I know I’ve drifted away from the original oil subject and into the ways of keeping the oil where it belongs.
