Silly New Owner...Helicoil Time

Hey All,

I wasn't going to post this for the sake of trying to save face. :roll: Yeah, I did it...stripped two valve cover holes. Helicoil kit should arrive Thursday. I started out using a individual allen wrench to "finger tighten" the bolts then after developing a small leak at the half moons I decided to use the torque wrench and ended up stripping two of them. I've never done a Helicoil tap. Aside from tapeing the holes and using lots of oil to keep the shavings out of places I don't want them, drilling straight and not to deep holes with the 1/4" bit, tapping the holes, using the Helicoil tool to install the coils flush with the top of the head, using a hammer and punch to break the tail and using a magnet to retrieve the tail is there any other tips I might need to know? Thanks.

Silly Gary

 

That's pretty much it. Just remember it's soft metal, drill straight and use lock tite on the insert...

Good luck and have patience ...

 

Your holes are almost 1/4 now. The bit will go straight. Use low speed and it'll stall when you get to the bottom.

Pack some greasy rags around the work to catch your cuttings.

You don't need to break the tail. The bolt will do it when you install. The tail can stay in the hole forever.

A little sealer at the bottom of the half moons is a good idea. The rubber grommets on the cover bolts tension the thing - torque makes no difference. Your old grommets may be dried out and shrunk, not putting enough pressure on the cover.

 

Thanks yall. Yeah, I'm going to order new donuts from Len.

Gary

 

YICS motor? The bolts have stop collars; 7.2 ft/lb is IT. You can easily do that with a long allen wrench.

Don't feel bad; I got my '81 with two helicoiled valve cover bolt holes. They're holding up fine, by the way. I suspect PO had it professionally done (since he wasn't capable of adjusting a chain.)

 

the helicoils are designed to hold themselves in, they are slightly larger than the tapped hole so spring tension holds them in. There is no need for threadlock. Threadlock only goes off (sets) when it is deprived of air so it won't go off with just a helicoil and will puddle at the bottom of the hole.

 

reabo,

Thanks.

Gary