Help A-ATEC thread loctite drama

[Pilky1303]

Lads, I’m in a pickle.

I’ve used medium strength loctite to glue a thread attachment to my .223. This is for the H2 ATEC quick change moderator.

I now need to remove the thread attachment as I need to have the barrel crown reduced by 1mm as the factory rifle thread is 16mm and to accept the H2 mod it needs to be a minimum of 15mm.

I’ve tried warming the thread with hair dryer (twice), and using molegrips to detach the thread and this has not worked. Then gently heated on the gas hob, and this didn’t work.

Before I embarrassingly take the barrel to a gunsmith, any other suggestions?

 

[Woodsmoke]

I feel your pain!

Do you have access to a vise with soft jaws? If so, stick the mod body in it, and wrap strong cord around the adapter (if you can?) Think of it as applying a tourniquet. Use a piece of dowel or similar to tighten the cord, and you can then use it as a makeshift strap wrench. I've used this technique on things as small as thread protectors in the past. It let's you apply huge torque, but won't damage anything. Hope you get it off!

 

[Stalker62]

Butane torch will provide sufficient direct heat to melt the glue.

 

[Pilky1303]

I feel your pain!

Do you have access to a vise with soft jaws? If so, stick the mod body in it, and wrap strong cord around the adapter (if you can?) Think of it as applying a tourniquet. Use a piece of dowel or similar to tighten the cord, and you can then use it as a makeshift strap wrench. I've used this technique on things as small as thread protectors in the past. It let's you apply huge torque, but won't damage anything. Hope you get it off!

I do have a vice with metal jaws. Was thinking of finding some heavy duty rubber or such to protect the thread attachment as I tried to screw it off

 

[Woodsmoke]

Butane torch will provide sufficient direct heat to melt the glue.

If it's the blue stuff it'll come apart mechanically

 

[DavyG]

Heat it using a hot air gun. A hairdryer won't get it soft enough. Get a strip of heavy back emery cloth and wrap it round the adapter once it's heated. Use a good set of vice-grips (mole grips) and give it a go.
DG

 

[bryn]

Lads, I’m in a pickle.

I’ve used medium strength loctite to glue a thread attachment to my .223. This is for the H2 ATEC quick change moderator.

I now need to remove the thread attachment as I need to have the barrel crown reduced by 1mm as the factory rifle thread is 16mm and to accept the H2 mod it needs to be a minimum of 15mm.

I’ve tried warming the thread with hair dryer (twice), and using molegrips to detach the thread and this has not worked. Then gently heated on the gas hob, and this didn’t work.

Before I embarrassingly take the barrel to a gunsmith, any other suggestions?

Heat will do the job and both your methods are not providing enough.
bryn

 

[Woodsmoke]

I do have a vice with metal jaws. Was thinking of finding some heavy duty rubber or such to protect the thread attachment

That should work. I've even improvised for a similar problem using a damp dishcloth in the past

 

[finnbear270]

Definately would be using a plumbers type bottle torch, just be careful with flame direction, the hottest flame area is just as the blue point is about to disappear, wear gloves obviously!

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

cut a piece off some wellies

 

[Orion]

Sometimes instead of the direct application of heat I’ve found the opposite can work.

Crack-It Shock Release

 

[Wilbur]

If it needs to be a minimum of 15 and you have 16 then shouldn’t it be ok

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Sometimes instead of the direct application of heat I’ve found the opposite can work.

Crack-It Shock Release

I use the worth version of this, can work a treat on some things.

 

[bullet chucker]

Butane torch will provide sufficient direct heat to melt the glue.

I was told of this method,but to add do not cook' the metal warm it up till the glue starts to SMOKE' and this will give you an indication of the glue being destroyed.

BC.

 

[Orion]

I use the worth version of this, can work a treat on some things.

I find it especially useful on fine threads or adjacent to components that might be ‘heat averse’. Had a previously loctite’d fastener seized into an NV scope just the other day and a short spray onto the head and surrounding mount got it moving straight away.

 

[kimh]

Not carried this out on a Rifle Mod situation but in the workshop many times including Red
Use Aerosol brake cleaner but not all brake cleaners work! look for a chlorinated high strength formula, that will soften it to a workable state, the solvent is thin enough to work between locker and thread, once you’ve loosened it up, then apply more solvent, you may need to work back and forth depending on how much thread locker has been applied.
Other solvents that can be used, trichloroethylene, toluene, and ethylene dichloride also MEK if you have any military mates?
Oh and make sure you are in the fresh air
Not sure what it will do to the finish on the items mentioned
Good luck

 

[Eric the Red]

An oil filter strap is a really effective way to get good leverage on a mod. I'm still bemused by loctiting a mod mind.....

 

[finnbear270]

Good luck with finding Trike, been out of industry for years.

 

[Pilky1303]

An oil filter strap is a really effective way to get good leverage on a mod. I'm still bemused by loctiting a mod mind.....

It’s a thread adaptor for a quick release mod. I didn’t read the instructions fully and didn’t realise the maximum length of rifle thread is 15mm and mine is 16mm. Basically the mod doesn’t fit on the end with the 1mm barrel sticking out.

 

[Pilky1303]

If it needs to be a minimum of 15 and you have 16 then shouldn’t it be ok

The 1mm of barrel sticking out the end of the tread adaptor means the mod will not fit.