rotor to shaft

[cunuck]

merc 5.7 service manual calls for thread locker to top of distributor shaft then place the rotor on .Do you really need thread locker (loctite blue) you need a heat gun to remove it. So if you had to repair on the water you would need a heat gun on the boat. It happened to me I had to change the ignition sensor no gun so a tow was needed.Do you need to loctite to keep it in place???????? thanks

[pascavone]

its to prevent the distributor from loosening from vibration on the high seas.

but if your only going up against 12" swells, I'd forget it.

if you can operate a wrench correctly, you should not need it.

I would not use it. better chance of stripping the threads.

The after market engine manuals for example, say to loctite the riser manifolds but the instructions in the parts boxes says don't.......

[cunuck]

I mean loctite the rotor to the distributor shaft not the hold down bolt.?????

[pascavone]

would not do ither. the set screw that locks the distributor or the rotor.

the rotor is moving 4600 rpm, and his spring loaded down from the distributor cap, since this arrangement been around since the model T, if its not broken don't fix it.

[mcoffey]

Are you kidding me? I just read my service manual and it states the same thing. These guys are crazy!!! Under no circumstance should you ever use Red Loctite (that is what 271 is) unless you never want to take it apart again. I don't even understand why they want you to put it on the shaft and rotor at the keyway. That makes no sense at all. Maybe, and I do mean maybe, I could understand if it was on the 3 screws that hold it down. Even then I would only use Blue Loctitie (that is 242 if interested). I have even seen some aftermarket rotors come with the blue thread sealant on the screws that are included thought that is not nearly as strong as even the 242 Loctite but does do the same thing, prevents the screws from backing out.

Crazy, crazy, crazy! I would not do it at all. If you must, use 242 only and only on the screws.

[ss3964spd]

In all my years of wrenching I've never applied Loctite to any rotor, be they the keyed press-on's or screw on's. I think the Loctite is really more of a CYA thing for Merc. It can't hurt to use it - until you have to remove it. As long as the rotor is a nice snug fit it isn't going anywhere. Remember also that the camshaft rotates at 1/2 crankshaft speed, so too does the rotor.