Stories

The Loctite Charlies make a mechanic’s life easier!

– so said Robby Gordon’s chief mechanic Bob in January 2010.

Read our stories and find out how the Henkel Charlies and their products have made themselves indispensable in past years. For the mechanics, the Charlies are essential to the rally:

“The work of the Loctite Charlies is well known and very well valued here (…). Competitors and mechanics love their help, they say it makes them save so much time, as there is no time to linger at the Dakar Rally. They need to take care of engine, wheels and other stuff so the Charlies just belong here.”

Three Charlies for Rodolfo

3090, the latest Loctite innovation, shows what it can do in the world’s toughest rally

The devil is in the detail – that was the lesson Argentina’s motocross pilot Rodolfo Bolletero learned when the sidelight of his bike came unhinged during the 2010 Dakar Rally. The particular detail that could have become a real problem for Bolletero was a gap of just under five mm. This gap needed to be filled to reattach the sidelight to his KTM racer. Conventional instant adhesives are not able to fill gaps, and replacing the sidelight altogether would have meant a serious delay.

The solution came in the form of four simple digits – 3090. The new Loctite 3090 instant adhesive can fill gaps of up to five mm. Along with the traditional benefits – an initial bond within seconds, a clear bondline, high strength and easy dispensing – any exposed adhesive remaining outside the joint will harden within 2–4 min. Thanks to Loctite 3090, the Henkel specialists were able to deliver an instant solution in a situation where time was of the essence. Rodolfo Bolletero could continue the race without losing valuable minutes.