Tip of the day.

[dodge man]

Helicoil. I've always been a big fan of helicoils. For those of you that haven't heard of them, they work well for striped out threads or bolts that are broken off and can't be removed. They come as a kit, with a tap, drill bit, and several helicoils. A helicoil looks like a compressed spring, but it has threads on the outside and the inside.

To use it, you drill out the original hole with the supplied drill bit, then tap it with the supplied tap, then screw in the helicoil (thread inserts). These can be stacked if its a long bolt hole. The inside of the helicoil puts the threads back to the original hole.

The plus side of the helicoil is it can save a ruined item, such as say a aluminum cylinder head. They are also easy to use, and I've never heard of them not working. The bad side of them is that you need a lot of room to work, so there is a good chance you will have to take the item off the piece of equipment and get it on the work bench.

I've included a picture of a kit. The helicoils are in the bottom of the photo, the tap in the upper left, and the installtion tool is the black item in the middle. The helicoils threads onto the intallation tool and then into the piece. The helicoils are also stainless steel and very durable once installed.

 

[LD1]

Helicoil. I've always been a big fan of helicoils. For those of you that haven't heard of them, they work well for striped out threads or bolts that are broken off and can't be removed. They come as a kit, with a tap, drill bit, and several helicoils. A helicoil looks like a compressed spring, but it has threads on the outside and the inside.

To use it, you drill out the original hole with the supplied drill bit, then tap it with the supplied tap, then screw in the helicoil (thread inserts). These can be stacked if its a long bolt hole. The inside of the helicoil puts the threads back to the original hole.

The plus side of the helicoil is it can save a ruined item, such as say a aluminum cylinder head. They are also easy to use, and I've never heard of them not working. The bad side of them is that you need a lot of room to work, so there is a good chance you will have to take the item off the piece of equipment and get it on the work bench.

I've included a picture of a kit. The helicoils are in the bottom of the photo, the tap in the upper left, and the installtion tool is the black item in the middle. The helicoils threads onto the intallation tool and then into the piece. The helicoils are also stainless steel and very durable once installed.

:thumbsup::thumbsup:

Yep, I like them too. But mostly for aluminum that likes to gald and strip threads anyway.

But whenever possible, I prefer to just drill out and go upsized one. But if that isnt possible, its heli-coil time. In aluminum or other soft material, the resulting threaded hole will be BETTER and last LONGER than before if it is a frequently used hole.:thumbsup:

 

[dodge man]

On aluminum race engines, they normally drill out every hole and put in helicoils.

 

[300UGUY]

On some older Cadillac aluminmum V8's, helicoils were used for the head bolt holes in the block.

 

[dodge man]

On some older Cadillac aluminmum V8's, helicoils were used for the head bolt holes in the block.

Northstars were known for pulling out the head bolts if they got overheated at all, so they probably fixed them helicoils.

 

[dodge man]

Tip of the day

Do you forget stuff? I do, all the time. I've learned to leave stuff where I almost have to trip over it to get to where I'm going. For example, I'm taking something to work the next day, I set it by the door I leave the house by the night before so I have to step over it, it almost impossible to miss it that way.

Another example, I once got a call and had to leave during a oil change. The car was sitting on the ground, filter on it, but no oil in it. I didn't want to forget to add the oil or let someone else drive it, so I stuck the oil bottles right in front of the drivers door.

 

[ncnurseryman]

That's funny. I do the same. If I don't have a list or put it in my way I will forget about it for sure. 100%.

 

[foggy1111]

Re: Tip of the day

Sometimes I forget why I have this string tied on my finger. Sad. :laughing:

It's not that I forget so much stuff.....it's that I have so many things to remember. :laughing:

 

[LD1]

Re: Tip of the day

I attempt to do the same thing. Until the wife gets upset that I dont put anything away:laughing:

Like my shoes. I leave them infront of the door so I will remember to put them on next time I go outside. Then the wife gets upset for tripping over them, gives me the third degree, and puts them in the closet for me. Next time I want to go outside I am hunting high and low for them. Nope, not by either of the 3 doors, not by the computer chair where I slipped them off while on TBN, where oh where could they be:confused2:

 

[RobertBrown]

Re: Tip of the day

Do you forget stuff? I do, all the time. I've learned to leave stuff where I almost have to trip over it to get to where I'm going. For example, I'm taking something to work the next day, I set it by the door I leave the house by the night before so I have to step over it, it almost impossible to miss it that way.

I just make sure it's in the truck the night before. Sometimes things happen in the am that will leave me distracted .