Spyderco Red Loctite

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wheelgunrambo

Joined
Sep 1, 2016
Messages
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I just got a Spyderco Para 3 and love it but was watching a youtube and they said Spyderco used red loctite on the two main screws (frame and pivot). Can anyone confirm this and is it a warranty issue to disassemble the knife? Im a bit concerned about even trying to loosen them.
 
The Spyderco forum appears to down at the moment, but I responded to the thread you started there on the 8th. I posted a link to the announcement they made addressing the red loctite, how to address it if you have a knife made before the changes, clarifications on the warranty, etc...
 
It will void your warranty if you disassemble the knife or even if they think they see a toolmark on the pivot screw, even if it wasn't disassembled (I know from experience).
 
I've taken my Para 3 apart to put custom scales on, and I can tell you that mine had no red lok-tite. They were secure, but unscrewed with little effort from my drivers.
 
LastRodeo said:
It will void your warranty if you disassemble the knife or even if they think they see a toolmark on the pivot screw, even if it wasn't disassembled (I know from experience).
Click to expand...

Inkynate is correct. They released a statement saying they've updated that. If you take it apart and screw something up then it's on you, but you can disassemble your Spyderco's without voiding the warranty as long as you put them back together right.

In the same statement they also said they're officially done using red loctite, it doesn't mean their older models won't still have some in them, though.
 
First off I question whether REAL red loctite was ever used.
Even blue (lesser strength than red) is for way, way, way larger fasteners than the minuscule fasteners in our wonderful Spydercos.
and
Red (and real loctite in general) is designed for applications where significant heat is encountered. Meaning one wants the engine to stay together even though it is up in the hundreds of degree F. range.
The fact that dunking one's knife in warm (not even boiling) water causes the "?red?" thread locker to loose it's grip . . .
well . . .

Here's the real stuff guys. 550°F max service temp (think baking oven turned all the way up).
In reality . . . if you want to use the REAL Loctite product designed for the size fasteners in our knives . . . PURPLE is the one that should be used.
http://henkeladhesivesna.com/blog/how-to-remove-red-threadlocker/

PS: if it turns out the real stuff was used then the reason it can be disassembled so "easily" (hot water) was that the surfaces were never prepared correctly in the first place. All the oil should be removed using some serious solvent preferably their "primer".
 
It was the real stuff, model number was called out by Spyderco on their forums. With UV dye.
 
It was red locktite in the Blade HQ PM2 I got last July. And yes is was a pain to crack open when it's unexpected.
 
My BBS PM2 had red threadlicker. I was able to take all but one screw off with nothing but force. The one screw needed a little help from soldering iron.

Boiling a knife? :confused:
 
McFeeli said:
Inkynate is correct. They released a statement saying they've updated that. If you take it apart and screw something up then it's on you, but you can disassemble your Spyderco's without voiding the warranty as long as you put them back together right.

In the same statement they also said they're officially done using red loctite, it doesn't mean their older models won't still have some in them, though.
Click to expand...

I'm sure they won't be refunding me my money though.....:)

But on a serious note, at that time they also said the knife would not be covered under warranty in the future either. I wonder what their policy will be for previously "no warranty" serviced knives.
 
LastRodeo said:
But on a serious note, at that time they also said the knife would not be covered under warranty in the future either. I wonder what their policy will be for previously "no warranty" serviced knives.
Click to expand...

I have found them to be patient and reasonable people.
If you have a common sense / reasonable problem they may just be able to help you with it.
Worth a call / e-mail. Just put your self in their shoes; if you would help you then they may help you.
 
Wowbagger said:
I have found them to be patient and reasonable people.
If you have a common sense / reasonable problem they may just be able to help you with it.
Worth a call / e-mail. Just put your self in their shoes; if you would help you then they may help you.
Click to expand...

My knife was serviced by Spyderco and the issue was remidied.
 
My CruWear PM2 (Dated 9-16) has a white permanent thread locker that has made it impossible to service one of the liners. Yes I have tried heat from a Soldering Iron along with a Hairdryer nothing worked. ZT also uses a white permanent thread locker. I found that out when I took apart my 0392.
 
HowAmI said:
My CruWear PM2 (Dated 9-16) has a white permanent thread locker that has made it impossible to service one of the liners. Yes I have tried heat from a Soldering Iron along with a Hairdryer nothing worked. ZT also uses a white permanent thread locker. I found that out when I took apart my 0392.
Click to expand...

Try heating the oposite side (to expand the female component assuming here that you heated the core / male component last try).
If that doesn't do it try two soldering irons; one on each side; may not be enough from your one iron.
Can always drill it with a sharp high quality bit (might need cobalt as some socket screws are hardened pretty well) but must be done right.
 
Wowbagger said:
Try heating the oposite side (to expand the female component assuming here that you heated the core / male component last try).
If that doesn't do it try two soldering irons; one on each side; may not be enough from your one iron.
Can always drill it with a sharp high quality bit (might need cobalt as some socket screws are hardened pretty well) but must be done right.
Click to expand...
When doing the Soldering Iron, I did hit the screw and the bushing (the bushing that is for the compression lock) it didn't seem to affect the thread locker. I did crank the temp up a little bit and still nothing. I've thought about sending it in but I've heard that Spyderco's CS will just send you a nasty letter in return (with whatever you sent in of course).
 
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