Sawyer's Machinery Handbook states to not use RTV compounds on split lines that ultimately control a dimesion. Something like a bearing housing for instance. This is due to the RTV often offering a relatively thick glueline that will often increase desired clearances to something undesirable. My past experience at Philadelphia Gear supported that conclusion and we always (after learning from experience) used Permatex #2 or a product I belive called Hylamar, both of which are "non-hardening" thus getting squeezed down when made up components are properly torqued down.

What is the general feeling of board memebers on the use of RTV on machine components that when made up act to control a dimension?

I'm with you on this one John, but then again I learned this valuable bit of knowledge from you about 12 years ago. Thanks! It has served me well!

John, you must have a customer who has adopted this "bad habit"... the misuse of RTV has to be one of the most prevalent maintenance worst practices out there, exceeded perhaps only by the misuse of Loctite and anti-seize.

I worked with an old millwright some 25 years ago on a big turbine, and he insisted on using only "triple-boiled linseed oil" on split lines.... are the new compounds modern equivalents of that, or are they better?