Loctite 242 And The Story Behind Finding It In Calcutta

In Siliguri hotel, after our epic Darjeeling trip on cycles (read about the trip here) I lost one of the nuts of my SKS Bluemels mud guards. Even during the trip I realised a few nuts were coming loose. I had tightened them. But somehow this one nut got lost. I am immensely lucky that it happened in the hotel room after the ride. We searched the hotel room almost upside down but couldn't find it. The bolt was lying on the floor but the nut was gone. 

After some research I decided to go for Loctite on these nuts. I have also decided to use them on some of the nuts and bolts at home - particularly the handle in Mampu's cupboard. 

First I looked up Amazon. There it was available but I wanted to check if Chandni had them. In Chandni the nuts and bolts sellers seemed to have never heard about Loctite. I went to the Prinsep Street area. A small shop there sells various types of hardware chemicals. He had heard the name Loctite but tried to sell me something called Anand claiming it to be the same thing. I decided against buying it because I have no clue how strong it might be. 

When I told him about my doubts he said, these are used for truck parts and tractors etc for heavy duty stuff. He thought I would be impressed. It had just the opposite effect on me. 

My next stop was Bhanubhai Desai- a famous industrial tools shop from where I buy most of my tools. The owner there is a very knowledgeable person. I knew he wouldn't keep it but might know who keeps it. As presumed he told me where to find the distributor. It's some office just in front of AC Mohammad. 

I wasn't sure if I would find the office there. These commercial buildings have innumerable small offices and no one would know who there is the distributor for Loctite :-)

I had a brainwave. Went to AC Mohammad and asked the sleepy old salesman about Loctite. He needed to be explained what it was. I showed him the bottle of WD 40 in his shop and said - like that is used to open tight nuts, this is used to tighten loose nuts.

He immediately understood what I was looking for. He asked me for the model number and then told me to wait. He went out of the shop murmuring 242, 242, 242 .... 

I knew where he was going. He came back in 5 minutes and sold me the 50 ml bottle for Rs 650.

I am waiting for the replacement nut to arrive. Then I will apply it and see how it performs.