Derk said:Lou D'Amelio said:For BB,I use Teflon plumber's tape.
Someone must really explain this to me: I asked my LBS to use teflon tape
for the BB and they refused, "since there was absolutely no room to use
it".
So how many layers do you use and is there a special way to wind it?
TIA, Derk
Dear Derk,
Teflon tape is just very thin, slightly stretchy, white non-sticky
tape, very useful for sealing pipe connections.
It's likely that there's room in anything less than an interference
fit. If not, it's unlikely that there will be any problem--the tape
will just be scraped off as you screw the parts together.
The special way to wind it is just common sense. Start winding at the
end of the bolt and pull enough to stretch the tape over the threads.
The tension and stretchiness are enough to keep it in place on threads
without any adhesive.
Wrap as if you're tightening a nut onto the bolt and cover the loose
end of the tape with your first turn. This way, running the bolt into
the nut will not pull off the end of the tape and will only tighten
the tape more.
If you wrap too many layers, they'll just be compressed or even forced
off as you run the bolt into the nut.
The disadvantage of teflon tape as a substitute for anti-seize is
that, no matter how many layers you use, some sections of tape will
end up cut through by the threads, letting metal touch metal, if
things are tight enough.
For plumbers, there's no problem if metal touches metal because
there's no leak.
For bicyclists worried about different metals touching and seizing,
the tape can reduce touching to a small thread section instead of the
whole length of the bolt.
The advantage is that teflon tape is quick, isn't messy, cleans up by
just snipping or tearing the extra tape off, and gives the proud
installer a clearly visible sign of his work.
Cheers,
Carl Fogel
