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Stud Problem
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 9:32 pm
by tanick
I changed the seals on my engine oil cooler this weekend. When tightening the bottom left nut back up it didn't tighten (but my stomach did). I undid it and removed the stud. Nice alloy shavings on it. I put some loctite on the stud and did it all up again. Now I'm starting to worry. Is it guaranteed to leak? Will it be bad or will the bottom right stud hold everything tight enough? I just want to drive the car now and I'll drop the engine next winter and fix it. I would do it now but the problem is that the previous owner glued down the grey fibreglass shroud on top so getting to the top bolts is a real pain. Should I bite the bullet and helicoil it now or will it be OK? I can tolerate a small leak, but don't want a catastrophic failure.
Any advice welcome from those that know.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:15 pm
by Derek
helicoil it now, better safe than sorry.
Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2006 10:40 pm
by Bootsy
Derek wrote:helicoil it now, better safe than sorry.
Agreed!
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:15 am
by tanick
Never done one before. Is it easy?
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 10:25 am
by impmad2000
You get a Kit; Helicoil, special tap, insertion tool.
You drill out to the correct new size, re-tap using their tap, and wind in the insert. Tap the "tang" off the end of the insert. Job done. Easy
Usual things apply, drill straight and to the correct depth. Tap gradually, using lubricant etc...
Have fun
Tim
Stud problem
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:28 pm
by Simon Rudge
Helicoils are fine for most uses, much better however are 'Timeserts', which use the same threadform as a helicoil. The insert is solid, so no breaking off the tang and not being able to find where it went. the only difference in the process is that there is a shoulder to drill into the top of the hole, for the insert to seat against. The tool for this comes in the kit. I think Demon Tweeks sell the kits.
Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 9:54 pm
by tanick
Cheers Guys. As luck would have it, one of my engineers at work had to go to RS this afternoon so I got him to get me a helicoil kit. Just been in the garage testing it out. Drilled a 6.5mm hole in a corroded front hub, then used a normal tap to make it M8, then knackered the thread up a bit and used the helicoil tap and fitted the coil. Easy job on a bit of scrap alloy, just got to keep my nerve when doing it for real on my precious case.
Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:10 pm
by tanick
Job Done (its on the left). Thanks everyone.
Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 11:25 pm
by Barry
That look neat, Nick: how did you keep it straight?