Stripped screw = discouraging evening

[gbw]

I stripped a screw tonight putting the stator cover back on. Its the one with the circle around it in the pic below. I can't decide if I should order the Helicoil now and fix it before I put the bike back together, or take my chances that this one screw will not really matter and I can fix it later.

Part of me wants to put the bike back together now to see if the new stator fixes my weak spark issue, and that this one screw does not matter. The other part of me thinks it will leak and I'll have to take it all apart again.

Any advice or suggestions?

Also, I've never done anything like a Helicoil before. The pessimist in my figures I'll screw it up worse once I take a drill to the motor! The videos on YouTube make it look easy enough. The kit only cost about $25 before shipping so it seems like a pretty cheap fix.

Anyone here done this. Should I be afraid?

Thanks


BTW: 77 GS750B

[asetech]

Done many helicoils they are not hard to do just make sure you drill straight. Have you tried running a tap through the hole to see if the bolt will grab.

[TheCafeKid]

I doubt that that up top screw is going to leak MUCH. it prolly will a lil bit, and actually maybe not at all, because of the way that gasket is set up. See what happens. Worst, you have to helicoil it, best, it never leaks a drop

[gbw]

Done many helicoils they are not hard to do just make sure you drill straight. Have you tried running a tap through the hole to see if the bolt will grab.

Yeah, I ran a tap into it a bunch of threads came out with it. The thing I have not tried is a slightly longer bolt. I'll try the longer bolt first, then the coil I guess. Thanks.

[gbw]

I doubt that that up top screw is going to leak MUCH. it prolly will a lil bit, and actually maybe not at all, because of the way that gasket is set up. See what happens. Worst, you have to helicoil it, best, it never leaks a drop

Thanks. I was thinking the same thing as far as the leak.

[chef1366]

That won't leak.
I would get a helicoil for it. I got one from a local Autozone. (for cam caps) I think it's a six.

[rapidray]

Bill is right, it is a 6mm x 1.0 thread. Ray.

[gbw]

That won't leak.
I would get a helicoil for it. I got one from a local Autozone. (for cam caps) I think it's a six.

Autozone huh...one close by. Might swing by there tomorrow. Not sure who gets more of my paycheck these days, Autozone or HomeDepot.

And its a 6 all right. I thought it was an 8 and torqued it as such. It stripped the threads just before I got to the right torque value for an 8. I was very confused so I went back and looked up the torque again THEN measured the screw. CRAP...wish I'd measured the screw first.

[SqDancerLynn1]

Torque wrenches are not acurate at the values required. After a few years you will get a feel for it. Only use the Tq wrench for head bolts

[bwringer]

Torque wrenches are not acurate at the values required. After a few years you will get a feel for it. Only use the Tq wrench for head bolts

Yes, this. You can get a torque wrench that's accurate at very low torque values, but it will cost at least a couple hundred bucks. Don't use a torque wrench on the small stuff.



Anyway, don't worry about that bolt -- it won't leak. There's little to no oil splashing around in that area. You might smear the gasket with a bit of Hylomar in that area. (Do NOT use silicone sealer.)

I probably wouldn't helicoil that, either -- the case is pretty thin there, and there might not be enough extra metal to safely support a thread insert.

Here's another view of that area with the cover from my scrap GS850 engine:

[p_s]

Yes, this. You can get a torque wrench that's accurate at very low torque values, but it will cost at least a couple hundred bucks.

Not on ebay. $40 for a $200 0-250 in lbs dial torque wrench.

[Joe Nardy]

Here is a 0-60 inch-pound beam type bicycle torque wrench for $34.95.............

Thanks,
Joe

[Joe Nardy]

Permatex makes an epoxy-based thread repair that should be okay for this tye of repair: Permatex Thread Repair

Thanks,
Joe

[bwringer]

Here is a 0-60 inch-pound beam type bicycle torque wrench for $34.95.............

I stand corrected... Park makes good tools, and that's an excellent price.

(When in doubt, I always ask myself: What Would Joe Do?)

I'm not entirely sure I'd trust an eBay no-name torque wrench, though.

Even with a good torque wrench, you need to learn to trust your wrist as a reality check instead of just yanking on the thing.

[bwringer]

Permatex makes an epoxy-based thread repair that should be okay for this tye of repair: Permatex Thread Repair

Thanks,
Joe

Also an excellent idea -- even with little or no torque on it, it would still be far better to have some sort of fastener in the hole, and this would likely work well without destroying good metal.