Side cover keeps backing off the block.

[J-Dub]

Hello everyone.
Side cover issues. Thank y’all for any input
I got a predator 212 with a mod 2 cam 18lb springs no gov billet flywheel billet rod.
At first it ran fine.. Then the bolts on the side cove just keep loosening
Up. I took it apart to replace the rod bearing cause it got a little burnt when it blew all the oil.
Replaced the bearings checked everything out. Clearances all good.
Bolt side cover back on. Used studs with good lock nuts. I torqued everything to spec. And went a few in lbs over to make sure.
Then ran it maybe 20 mins not even getting on it real hard. Than sure enough oil everywhere. Side cover nuts are loose again.
So does anyone else have this problem??? And do I just need to tighten them nuts up till there super tight??

 

[mrdeadman1]

red loctite on the bolts and it won't back out anymore

 

[anickode]

Blue loctite (#243) would be better, assuming you want to be able to get it apart without ruining it in the future.

The right fastener is also important. I believe that should use serrated flange bolts, not studs with nuts, and no washers of any kind.

Over-torquing is a bad idea in aluminum. You can strip threads and deform parts quite easily.

What are you using for a gasket? New OEM? Reused oem? RTV?

 

[J-Dub]

I’m using studs with the serrated lock nuts. I used red to put the studs in the block and blue on the nuts. New oem gasket. What’s the max torque u can actually torque them to.
I don’t think the stock specs was tight enough to get the nuts to dig in like they are supposed to.

 

[anickode]

~17 ft/lb is the spec if I remember right.

I don't understand how you're breaking loctite loose that easily, unless it's the wrong type, and it's not curing properly. Color isn't the only thing that matters. There are different formulas.

242 (blue) and 262 (red) are for active metals only. Basically clean bare steel. They can take hours to start setting up and DAYS or longer to cure on aluminum and zinc plated parts.

243 (blue) and 263 (red) are self-priming compounds meant for inactive materials like plated bolts, aluminum, stainless, etc. They should set up in a few minutes and reach full strength after 24h

 

[itsid]

still a very dubious scenario...
you remembered to torque the bolts in a star pattern and
not just clock- or counterclockwise, right?

And you are aware that side cover bolts on your predator are METRIC (M8x30)
-as with all chinese engines- and not 5/16", right?
Since if you weren't you shred your threads by now for sure..
and the reason why they're backing out so easily is found

'sid