SuzukiSavage.com - to tap or helicoil?

Bubba

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to tap or helicoil?
12/08/10 at 07:23:10

I'm trying to decide on something and would like some input.
The L130 bolt on my headcover is stripped. PO had told me it has a bad oil leak because of it. Makes sense, but I'm also suspecting whoever worked on it before did a quick and dirty job on the head cover plug and sealer.
I'm trying to figure out if I should try to find a long tap and just oversize the hole it goes into on the cylinder body and stick a new bigger bolt in there or if I should pull the head off (with all the cam/chain headache that goes with that) and get in there and use a helicoil to use the stock bolt.

P.S. I'd probably need to get an extra long tap...any source for that?
Does anyone know what metric size that bolt is and what size tap/bolt I could use in it's place?
thx

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'06 lt Blue, Dyna Power pipe, air screw 2 1/4 turns, 52.5 pilot w/ bleed holes, 150 Main, 2/3 spacer, Pirelli MT66 tires, Raptor petcock, 412-4006 Progressive shocks

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Phelonius

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Re: to tap or helicoil?
Reply #1 - 12/08/10 at 08:56:03

Since the turkey stripped the threads, he probably didn't do the plug very well either.
The late model plug is better anyway so just get a new one.
A helicoil requires that you drill it out a bit bigger to tap and coil it so I would go for the next size tap first, you could helicoil later if that didn't work. You might be able to get a long tap from ENCO. If I remember correctly, the original is a 6mm bolt. 8mm is the next common size but might be too much. There is such a thing as a 7mm bolt but you may have to search a bit.
Did you say the threads go down into the cylinder?
I don't remember any threads that go deeper than into the head for the cover bolts.

Phelonius

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Phelonius

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Re: to tap or helicoil?
Reply #2 - 12/08/10 at 08:56:26

Since the turkey stripped the threads, he probably didn't do the plug very well either.
The late model plug is better anyway so just get a new one.
A helicoil requires that you drill it out a bit bigger to tap and coil it so I would go for the next size tap first, you could helicoil later if that didn't work. You might be able to get a long tap from ENCO. If I remember correctly, the original is a 6mm bolt. 8mm is the next common size but might be too much. There is such a thing as a 7mm bolt but you may have to search a bit.
Did you say the threads go down into the cylinder?
I don't remember any threads that go deeper than into the head for the cover bolts.

Phelonius

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #3 - 12/08/10 at 09:01:12 Typically a new bolt will resolve the issue till next time. But if it is truely stripped, my preferrence would be helicoil. And while you're at it, do all of them.
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Bubba

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Re: to tap or helicoil?
Reply #4 - 12/08/10 at 09:24:24

I'd like to get it running and gone...(hoping the wife will want to keep it for herself but I'm thinking not) so I think the tapping and new bolt might be the way to go. I just don't want to go through the small amount of material I have there...it is a pretty small area, right where the bolt threads go into the cylinder fins.

Anyway, when I pulled the bolt out it appeared to already have been helicoiled...there were threads wrapped around the bolt????

I might run over to harbor freight and see if they have any small taps with long reach...probably only going to do this once...

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'06 lt Blue, Dyna Power pipe, air screw 2 1/4 turns, 52.5 pilot w/ bleed holes, 150 Main, 2/3 spacer, Pirelli MT66 tires, Raptor petcock, 412-4006 Progressive shocks

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #5 - 12/08/10 at 09:40:26 If it was a helicoil that came out, the back edge would be like threads. Ive seen parts of threads come out on a bolt, it almost looks like a heli.. You MIGHT be able to step from metric to SAE & get a bolt in there with less materials removed, IDK,
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Oldfeller--FSO Serious Thumper ModSquad Offline Hobby is now "concentrated neuropany" Posts: 12673 Fayetteville, NC Gender:	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #6 - 12/08/10 at 13:12:52 There is a lot of extra hole down there, generally speaking. Take the right tap and retap the hole going intentionally deeper with the threads. Now get a longer bolt to engage those new threads. Not too hard, not too expensive.
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Bubba

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Re: to tap or helicoil?
Reply #7 - 12/08/10 at 13:29:17

Thanks guys, I'm having a really hard time finding a tap that is 6 inches long...I'm thinking the head has to come off for me to do this Sad

more work than I wanted to do but it might be my only option without spending a bunch of money. I'd helicoil it but that would cost more than just a tap and bolt I think

I was looking at possibly going to a 5/16 inch tap and then getting a 5/16 bolt to fit in there...saw those at ACE
I believe a 5/16 is just up from a 6mm but if anyone knows for sure please let me know...

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'06 lt Blue, Dyna Power pipe, air screw 2 1/4 turns, 52.5 pilot w/ bleed holes, 150 Main, 2/3 spacer, Pirelli MT66 tires, Raptor petcock, 412-4006 Progressive shocks

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28890 L.A. California Gender:	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #8 - 12/08/10 at 15:35:24 Buy the tap, and a piece of rod, take it to a welder.
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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #9 - 12/08/10 at 21:33:27 verslagen1 wrote on 12/08/10 at 15:35:24: Buy the tap, and a piece of rod, take it to a welder. I was gettin all wound up to say about the same thing..
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ebonysresearch Junior Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 93	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #10 - 12/09/10 at 04:24:17 Plus 1...I would try the tap before the helicoil.
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ralfyguy

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Re: to tap or helicoil?
Reply #11 - 12/09/10 at 04:43:05

Yes 5/16 is the next size up, as 1/4 is 6.35mm. Too bad it's the L130 bolt and not the L125. My L125 was stripped and since I had the same problem how to obtain a long tap like that, I ordered a L130 and filed longitudial cutting grooves on it and carefully tapped the hole further down. Only a turn or two at a time and then back out to blow out the shavings. It went all the way in and I measured only about 1/16" to spare before hitting bottom. Now my bike has two L130 bolts.

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Bubba

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Re: to tap or helicoil?
Reply #12 - 12/09/10 at 07:35:46

Thanks guys! As it turns out the nimrod that did the work on the header before had swapped out the 125 and the 130 bolts. I took the head off and started to try the 130 in both holes.
It sure seems as if I get some thread engagement with BOTH holes when I don't have the head on. This leads me to believe that if I can get 2 slightly longer bolts (maybe 135) I may be okay.

I may try Ralfy's suggestion and just get a longer bolt, cut some grooves in it and see if I can tap it down a smidge more to be sure.

If something breaks loose I'll get the tap & rod and go that route but the hole in the head will be tight (so that weld will have to be a good smooth weld to fit!

P.S. When I pulled the head off there was NO (nadda, ziltch) sealer on the head or cover...gee I wonder why he had a head leak!!!!!

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'06 lt Blue, Dyna Power pipe, air screw 2 1/4 turns, 52.5 pilot w/ bleed holes, 150 Main, 2/3 spacer, Pirelli MT66 tires, Raptor petcock, 412-4006 Progressive shocks

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #13 - 12/09/10 at 07:50:02 P.S. When I pulled the head off there was NO (nadda, ziltch) sealer on the head or cover...gee I wonder why he had a head leak!!!!! Well, not only did it leak, it also closed as tight on the cam as it can.When you go back, go THIN on the goo.
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Bubba Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 956 Denver, CO Gender:	Re: to tap or helicoil? Reply #14 - 12/09/10 at 10:34:22 I plan to. Ralfyguy do you happen to have pics of the homemade tap you used?
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