Subject: Re: Kapow & Helicoil
Author: karl von kologiski
Date: Mar 18, 2004, 10:18 AM
Post ID: 1716335942
I went down to Napa and bought a spark plug repair kit that uses a insert rather than the helicoil style. I am going to give this a try and see how it goes. I think I have changed the plugs once in 2 years, so it should hold. The first time I changed the plugs, i noticed the threads were bad and had to use a thread chaser. over time I just forgot about the threads untill this morning. I wonder how many cars that plug hit when it shot out of the head.
-----Original Message-----
From: Darrell Dick <ddic-@juno.com>
Sent: Mar 18, 2004 10:51 AM
To: Loopfram-@topica.com
Subject: Re: Kapow & Helicoil
The boy is giving you some good advice here. I would pull the head off on
a Guzzi, too. But, for the record, I have repaired a bunch of spark plug
holes on cars, without removing the heads. These were always aluminum
heads. Nobody will recommend this, but I have never had a problem. The
inserts I have seen lately aren't helicoils they are more like a sleeve
and they use a swage along with the Loctite. I don't remember the brand
name right now. I haven't had one come out yet.
Darrell Dick
Imlay City, MI 48444
On Thu, 18 Mar 2004 10:13:14 -0500 Kevin Graf <kgr-@midwestpension.com>
writes:
| Helicoils are great. Of course I would prefer not to use 'em but they make do make a good repair. I can't believe you haven't had to use them yet. Must be lucky. Defiantly remove the head for this. Taking the head off will let you get comfortable and let you take time to get a good straight angle for the drilling and tapping. Some will say you can do this with the head still on the bike and use the grease on the drill and tap to prevent shaving from entering the combustion chamber, but if you don't have to do it this way, don't. I might be a bit worried about where the metal from the threads went. So removing the head will also let you check out the condition of the cylinder. I would say try to do this before you ride home as best you can but seeing as how you already rode the rest of the way to work, whatever damage, if any(I doubt there is) is done. There are helicoil kits specifically for spark plug holes. Might want to look into that. I would assume the same setup as a regular helicoil. The set can include the dill bit, the tap, and the helicoil(s). the tap will be a special specific size, for the helicoil, not a standard size tap. Just drill the hole with the bit they supply, tap it with the tap they supply and srew in the coil. I might think about red locktite on the coil. Might not make much of a diferance with the heat though. What caused this I wonder? Was the plug cross threaded? Wierd the threads would just decided to give up the ghost. Loose plug vibrating around in there? good luck, Kev -----Original Message----- From: Karl Kologiski [mailto:kkolo-@earthlink.net] Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 9:47 AM To: Loopfram-@topica.com Subject: Kapow & Helicoil While riding to work this morning, I went to pass someone who was reading the paper while driving. I jucied the throttle and Kapow. My eldo sounded like a sick lawnmower. Looking down at the cyclinder I noticed the plug wire laying there with no end in it. I pulled over and noticed the sparkplug was gone. I walked back a block and found the cap end and plug laying in the road. Just then a car ran over it and smashed the plug end. I got the plug and what was left of the boot. The threads in the head were gone. The plug sliped in and out of the hole like there were no threads at all. I was able to smash the threads on the plug and removed the compression ring and it was just enough to get the plug to stay in the head. I rigged the wire end to the plug and made it to work on 1.5 cyclinders. The bad plug only fired a few times every mile. I normaly carry a set of extra plugs, but donated them at bike week to a guy who needed a set. I am going to nurse it home an! d put in a helicoil. Has anyone had any good or bad experance with these ? I assume you have to take the head off to install the kit. |