Trolling Motor Screws Keep Coming Loose

[PotomacBassin]

I have a MK 55 Edge and there are two alan wrench screws that function as the pivot for the elbow of the trolling motor.  After a full day on the water the one screw is usually loose and one time it even came completely out.  I was wondering if anyone ever had this same issue and if using a non permanent thread lock would suffice? 

[Jig Man]

I'd try some teflon tape first.

[Traveler2586]

Yes, use a non-permenant thread lock.

[Kevin22]

Non perm threadlock or a drop of silicone sealer will do fine. 

[J Francho]

Blue thread lock should work fine.

[PotomacBassin]

Thanks guys!!  I already have blue.  Blue is temporary (medium) and red is permanent (locktite), correct?

[slonezp]

I've used red on everything. It's a bich to remove the screws but it can be done

[PotomacBassin]

Ok, but in theory red is supposed to be the permanent one  and blue temporary, correct? 

[slonezp]

yeah, Unless you're planning on removing the unit, just use red

[Traveler2586]

Try the blue with a small drop of red.  Live on the edge

[slonezp]

Try the blue with a small drop of red.  Live on the edge

Purple?

[Traveler2586]

Purple?

 

LOL,,, Ya, I think it will mix as you screw it in....

 

Or, ask your wife for some fingernail polish.

[Kevin22]

Three drops red, one drop blue, then add a drop of loctite super glue to the top. If it starts smoking you did it right. 

[PotomacBassin]

I think this thread just went to the NSA.

[Traveler2586]

I think this thread just went to the NSA.

 

It has been there.......

[martintheduck]

Red = "permanent" 

 

Blue = "temporary"

 

Try teflon tape or a couple drops of blue. If that doesn't work, use red.

[cbass12]

I noticed this on my newer Edge 70 the other day. It seemed that one of the screws was moving just a bit when I would turn the motor while engaged. I might have to go check the screws......

[PotomacBassin]

I noticed this on my newer Edge 70 the other day. It seemed that one of the screws was moving just a bit when I would turn the motor while engaged. I might have to go check the screws......

Yeah this reminded me that I should be carrying a set of alan wrenches on the boat.  But I just added some thread lock to it, so it should be good for a while now.  It was actually stripping the threads a little bit when it was loose because of all the movement of the motor engaging and swinging the arm up and down.   

[Downeaster2010]

I have another idea that might be a simpler cure for the problem.  Why not try some plumbers pipe thread

tape to see if that helps before you use the blue loctite.  I bet it would.

[BKeith]

I don't use an Edge but the first thing I would do is take the screw out and see if there is a sleeze/bushing or the screw had a shoulder on it. NORMALLY, a properly designed pivot point will use something to keep the head of the screw from locking down on a moving joint. If there's a bushing, it's probably too short and needs one a little longer. If it's a shoulder type screw, you can probably add something like a small lock washer on the bottom of it to shim it out so the head doesn't hit.

If they didn't do something like that, it's just a very poor design and I would put a couple drop of locktite 242 (Blue) on the thread and screw in but not lock the head down against the metal so I will back it back out or bind it. Be sure to clean the treads and the threaded hole good with brake cleaner or denatured alcohol good so it's bright metal or it will be useless to use the locktite.