Keeping Ring's tight

Hamatym

Ok, First off I am VERY happy with the rings that Larry created and offered to us (Toolsforlife)....The craftsmanship and results are outstanding!!

My question...Now that they have been installed for awhile they keep wiggling loose. Is there anything I can add that will keep them inplace? I don't mind going around and tightening them every month, but the last time I accidently cut the rubber because the allen wrench slipped.

Any ideas? (besides slow down...ha ha)

Audioquest

Hamatym wrote: »

Ok, First off I am VERY happy with the rings that Larry created and offered to us (Toolsforlife)....The craftsmanship and results are outstanding!!

My question...Now that they have been installed for awhile they keep wiggling loose. Is there anything I can add that will keep them inplace? I don't mind going around and tightening them every month, but the last time I accidently cut the rubber because the allen wrench slipped.

Any ideas? (besides slow down...ha ha)

One idea might be to buy a T handle allen wrench so the operating end is away from the driver. Another might be to use lock washers on the screws so they don't work loose.

Ricardo

Are you using mortite? then the problem is not the rings...it's the mortite.

Toolfan66

I use mortite and my rings/drivers never come loose are you sure they are snugged tight enough??

jimmydep

If the screws are loosening a thread lock compound may be the answer.

http://www.amazon.com/Henkel-01-24200-Loctite-6-ml-Threadlocker/dp/B000I1RSNS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288452229&sr=8-1

Jimmy

Hamatym

Thanks Guys! I will try the loctite and see how that goes....I do not have Mortite, and trust me I tightened them VERY tight. I feel the basket will bend, so I want to be careful.

Maybe I just listen to my music to loud?...:)

thsmith

Use blue loctite if you every want to lossen them. That is what I used on mine and no issues to date.

If you use red you will be sorry someday.

You only need a drop.

inspiredsports

thsmith wrote: »

Use blue loctite if you every want to lossen them. That is what I used on mine and no issues to date.

If you use red you will be sorry someday.

You only need a drop.

I use blue on projects like this all the time and agree it's a perfect answer.

RCFGuitars

Blue loctite on mine - still solid, no issues

thsmith

I did use an idea Jesse used which was a brass flatwasher too.

Vette C6.r

I agree with Ricardo. If you used the Mortite it will continue to flatten out.
My rings haven’t been in long but I can’t imagine those things becoming loose.
I used the factory gaskets.

F1nut

I just checked mine and they are as tight as the day I installed them. I'm using the stock gaskets, no Loctite.

I did use an idea Jesse used which was a brass flatwasher too.

Tracy, I switched from the brass washers on the PR's to black oxide stainless steel washers as I noticed that the brass washers bent to easily even when doubled up. I did not use any washers on the drivers, but I'm sure that doing so wouldn't hurt anything.

I purchased the washers here, http://www.fastener-express.com/black-oxide-stainless-washers.aspx

BIZILL

i mentioned blue loctite in tool's original ring thread. i wonder how many took my advice.

Hamatym

I did get the Blue Loctite, but haven't had time to install just yet....I am sure this will work! But I am thinking I need something like the T handle as well....my multi-sized allen tool is likely not giving me as much leverage as I think.....Work in progress

jimmydep

How tight do you have to make these.......if you use a standard criss cross tightening pattern then a final once around torquing I don't see how they would loosen, especially with a drop of loctite on the threads.

brgman

Be careful how much loctite you apply.I sell the stuff and can tell you a small drop on one half of the threads is all you need.This should also take away the "how tight?" issue since you go hand tight without forcing it and it should stay right there until you ever remove it.
Unless you use too much you can't go wrong with this stuff.
It is also available in a stick form,like chapstick,if you are leary of this running down the speaker.I may have some around if anyone needs that.

Vette C6.r

One thing I did notice when I was putting in the rings that for some reason I didn't notice before.

If you guys have the RDO's they were made a bit differently.

The mounting hole does not have the built in washer that the SLXXXX's had. If you torque them down on the RDO's it will bend the ears on the corners. I recommend using small washers between the back of the RDO's and the cabinets to prevent the bending ears and more than likely sealing the tweeters better.

DarqueKnight

I use Mortite and my rings are as tight as when I installed them last June. Likewise for my tweeter brackets.

brgman

How did you apply that Darque? Inbetween the ring and the cab?
i cannot envision the tweeter application.around the edge?

DarqueKnight

Mortite was applied between the driver rim and cabinet.

I applied a cord of Mortite just inside the raised ridge on the back of the tweeter.

brgman

Thanks for the info

MillerLiteScott

I just checked mine and they were looser than I thought. I tightened them all up again. Looks like a little bit of Blue locktite would be a help.

Scott

helipilotdoug

MillerLiteScott wrote: »

I just checked mine and they were looser than I thought. I tightened them all up again. Looks like a little bit of Blue locktite would be a help.

Scott

From the experience I had with doing 2 sets of speakers, the screws may need to be tightened again over the course of several days when using the mortite. It does need some time to compress. With my speakers it did take a few days of snugging up the screws until they did not seem to move anymore. Since then, they have seemed to stay tight without the need for locktite. My method of tightening was to use a allen screw driver, and to tighten each screw until fairly tight, but not enough to put too much stress on the driver as to warp them. Again with this method, it took several sessions, but in the end they have remained tight.

Hamatym

ok, I got the Blue loctite and applied them to my first set of speakers....very easy to do and I feel this is the correct route to go.....Thanks for the help guys!

mmadden28

Just a reminder if your using Mortite, I would delay using the LocTite until I was sure the Mortite settled and wouldn't need any more tightening over time.

**EDIT** Nevermind--I missed it before but HeliPilot already said this just above

F1nut

Me thinks that if your screws are coming loose, you didn't tighten them well to begin with.

Polkersince85

Just a word of caution on the Loctite. It may stain some plastics or other items. Use it carefully. A tiny bit goes a long way.

Hamatym

Yep....clean up the loctite ASAP! and F1nut may be correct on the tightening part. This last go around, they were MUCH tighter....so that tells me they are not getting loose like before. I know they were tight initially, but may have "settled" in as time went on.

All good, Blue Loctite is the finishing touch to this great upgrade

Toolfan66

I finished putting rings in my 1C's the other night and have them in my rig playing Steely Dan right now. Sounds good!!! They have been sitting to long, time to put the spurs to"em"

I still have yet to have any screws come loose..

Enjoy!!

thsmith

Just checked mine this morning after having them in for 2 months using loctite.

STill tight as the day I installed them.

Vette C6.r

I had my doubts that mine would come lose. I checked them today after several nights of "spirited" listening.

They were a bit loose. Loctite it is.