Hi Pete

Yes use blue locktite  I do not use any lock washer, they seem to NOT work, instead they let the bolts come loose. I also use "duct tape as a gasket, they type of tape that looks like metal aluminum foil and is sticky on one side with paper backing
Use that as the gasket, or the stick on copper tape
I have zero problems this way

''Randy

A question!  Does any one know where a person can get the copper tape?  I used to have some pieces (which were given to me) but I have never found a source to buy it.  Have tons of the foil "duct" tape, but I like the copper better.  The stuff I had was actually "quilted"!

Big Bear

Try stained glass supply houses.  Also look in electronics catalogs (i.e. http://www.digikey.com) -- sometimes copper tape is used to repair circuit boards.  Both sources will have it in fairly narrow widths, so it may not work for you.

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail&name=3M1245C-ND
(click on the picture and it will enlarge to see the quilting)

This is EXACTLY the stuff I had years ago.  IIRC, the late Larry Barrickman gave me a foot or two.  It is quilted, and self adhesive. 

Mongo

I am having trouble keeping the screws that hold on the RE header on a piped engine from coming loose. Have gone to larger lock washers. Am considering blue lok-tite. Is securing with lok-tite an accepted practice? Any other practical suggestions for resolving this issue? Copper form-a-gasket used between header and engine, this does not appear to be the problem. Loose header screws make the engine get real loud,real fast, and real hot...ugh.

   I didn't know anyone was still using gaskets - we have used silicone sealant with nothing else (other than flattening the surface carefully) for 20-ish years now. I always make sure that some of it gets in the screw holes, and use the normal lockwashers, and I have never had a problem with the header coming off. Even if the screws get loose, the silicone holds it.

    Brett

   I didn't know anyone was still using gaskets - we have used silicone sealant with nothing else (other than flattening the surface carefully) for 20-ish years now. I always make sure that some of it gets in the screw holes, and use the normal lockwashers, and I have never had a problem with the header coming off. Even if the screws get loose, the silicone holds it.

    Brett

Hi Brett

We mostly still use gaskets, the ultra thin soft al tape make a very quick and easy gasket since it has self adhesive on one side,
 and is much much easier to get off than silicone is, and it doesn't fowl the screw holes, It is simple,  Quick, and effective
I use this and blue locktite, I never have headers get loose.

Years back when people used gaskets that were thick enough to crush, such as the paper gasket material, that in itself caused the problem with leaks and loose headers as I am sure you already know.
The thick gasket material will at some point let you header get loose, leak, and it's downhill from there

A loose header fill Doug Moon's NATs plane full of hot oil at this years NATs, most likley the reason it failed


Randy