kelabar
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Post by kelabar on Aug 26, 2020 21:05:01 GMT 10
I have heard of these 'helicoil' things but never seen or used one. Apparently you put a spiral of metal in the stripped hole and this replaces the thread.
Anyone done it? Any good? Brands? When can and can't you do it? Any type of metal or only steel?
TIA.
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Post by milspec on Aug 26, 2020 21:19:45 GMT 10
Helicoils/timecerts are great. Very effective, very strong. I think I did one into steel along time ago but more often threads are stripped in aluminium.
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Aug 26, 2020 21:20:15 GMT 10
Ok let’s torque about helicoils.
I’ve had them installed in my bikes on occasion. I like to ride high performance dirtbikes but the bloody things have alloy engines and use steel bolts, a horrible combination for the ham fisted mechanic. I have stripped threads on a range of things but the sump plug thread takes the cake. I did not install the helicoil but i can say that it worked a treat and did not leak any oil.
i believe the kits are cheap and easy to use. Better still use that 1/4 inch ratchet kelabar and you won’t need helicoils. lol
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Post by milspec on Aug 26, 2020 21:25:07 GMT 10
you basically drill out the hole to a specific diameter for the helicoil, tap it with the tap designed for the helicoil, the the helicoil itself screws into the oversize thread using a small tool, the interior of the helicoil then provides a new set of steel threads for the original screw to fit to.
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kelabar
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Post by kelabar on Aug 26, 2020 22:27:47 GMT 10
you basically drill out the hole to a specific diameter for the helicoil, tap it with the tap designed for the helicoil, the the helicoil itself screws into the oversize thread using a small tool, the interior of the helicoil then provides a new set of steel threads for the original screw to fit to. Excellent, thanks, even I should be able to do that. Better still use that 1/4 inch ratchet kelabar and you won’t need helicoils. lol Rubbish, I can assure you I have no problems whatsoever stripping threads even with tiny tools!  Unfortunately, my most common thought when a spanner is in my hand is "I'll just nip it up a little bit more". This is often followed by "DAMN!" (Actually, not 'damn', it is a lot filthier than that but this is a public forum!) I blame single cylinder dirt bikes for this. They are specifically designed to vibrate bolts loose in about 5 minutes.  |
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kelabar
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Post by kelabar on Sept 6, 2020 10:47:57 GMT 10
OK. There are about a billion different brands. Do they all come out of the same factory or are some better than others?
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bushdoc2
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Post by bushdoc2 on Sept 7, 2020 7:35:55 GMT 10
For spark plug threads, stuff the cylinder with rags first. Then, when finished, you pull out the rags, and hopefully all the metal shavings (including the snap-off bit at the bottom of the helicoil).
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