Stripped sparkplug thread

[ducpainter]

I believe we tend to over think things.

Back in the day when I twisted wrenches on 2 smokers...

stripped plug threads were so commonplace we'd grease a tap and do an insert from the outside...

seemed to work...

back then.

Always worked bestr from the inside.

It probably depends on how you do it...

and yes...

Locktite had been invented....

[Langanobob]

Ducpainter,

I more or less agree with you and if it were my own bike and I'd stripped the plug myself I would just do it in place with a greased bit and tap - I've done this before.  However, the case we have here is different and the dealer made a mistake and should do it by the book correctly.

Also, following this same line of reasoning I used to do a perfectly good tank paint job with a rattle can, then bake it in the household oven for a few hours while SWMBO wasn't home...don't see any need at all for any fancy prep or two part primers or multi-stage paints.   

[ducpainter]

Ducpainter,

I more or less agree with you and if it were my own bike and I'd stripped the plug myself I would just do it in place with a greased bit and tap - I've done this before.  However, the case we have here is different and the dealer made a mistake and should do it by the book correctly.

Also, following this same line of reasoning I used to do a perfectly good tank paint job with a rattle can, then bake it in the household oven for a few hours while SWMBO wasn't home...don't see any need at all for any fancy prep or two part primers or multi-stage paints.   

No argument about it being the dealers responsibility and the fact that he should expect a quality repair. I don't think I even insinuated otherwise. Commenting on what works is just that...a comment

Speaking about what works and doesn't work...

The paint thing works great...if you don't pour gas in your tank.

[Langanobob]

The paint thing works great...if you don't pour gas in your tank. Wink

I will post a picture of my Triumph Bonneville tank that's had rattle can paint on it for decades.    And it's had lots of gas run through it.  I may have to post a very low resolution photo since it does show it's age...

Hope the OP is back on Monday with some good news from his dealer.

[ducpainter]

I will post a picture of my Triumph Bonneville tank that's had rattle can paint on it for decades.    And it's had lots of gas run through it.  I may have to post a very low resolution photo since it does show it's age...

Hope the OP is back on Monday with some good news from his dealer.

I'm sure you realize the stuff you used on your Bonny was lacquer and all the stuff today is unactivated synthetic enamel.

I'll discuss paint forever.

[TAftonomos]

I can never tell when to engage DP in a serious conversation or not.  Last time I tried he said something like "if I cared" 

[ducpainter]

I can never tell when to engage DP in a serious conversation or not.  Last time I tried he said something like "if I cared" 

I didn't that day.

[Langanobob]

I can never tell when to engage DP in a serious conversation or not.

I have the same issue with everyone here - couldn't possibly be me though   I know enough about most things to tell when someone doesn't really know what they're talking about and DP does know a lot about paint.  (It took discipline, but there, I said something positive and I'm leaving it at that)

[CraigD426]

OK, back on subject. I called the dealer and he said to bring it in and maybe he could chase the threads or put a Heli-coil in it, not the response I was wanting. Any suggestions from the members?

[Langanobob]

Chasing the threads - NO.  If they are screwed up enough for the plug to come out while you were riding, chasing them is  not an effective repair.

The problem with a Heli-coil repair is that they "can" unthread in the future.  You remove the plug and instead of unthreading from the coil, the coil comes out wrapped around the plug.   Not to say this will happen as Heli-coils have been around for a long long time and have been used for many successful repairs. The Time-serts that have been discussed already are the best solution.  If the shop can do a Heli-coil they can do a Time-sert as the procedure is very similar.  The kits are expensive and if they don't have a kit on hand already (a good shop should) they may be balking at the Time-serts due to the expense.

It also sounds like they will not want to remove the head to do the repair?  It "can" be done in place but unless the guy doing it is very good and experienced there is some chance that debris will get into your cylinder.  Again chances of that happening and actually doing harm aren't great, but still...to do it correctly the head should come off.  It all hinges on how capable the shop is.   I would ask them how many plug thread repairs they have done. 

Don't know how mechanically inclined you are or if you have tools and a place to work, but if it were my bike I would just avoid the hassle, time and stress of dealing with the dealer and just do it myself. 

Good luck with this.

[Pedro]

I'd be willing to bet that they will not try to blame you. But...I'd also be willg to bet that they will deny your request for a new head.

I also would not want a Heli-Coil but a TimeSert is a very nice repair for a stripped out spark plug hole. If they suggest Heli-Coil, I'd request a TimeSert.

I hope you get a new head out of the deal...but I'd be suprised.

Keep us informed.

Timesert is definitely the way to go (my better half works for Wurth who supply them so not too biased..!) much better than helicoils and much better long term

[CraigD426]

I'm gonna trailer the bike over there and have him look at it, I only got about 5 min to speak with him on the phone so I don't think he knows the extent of what is going on. He did say he would remove the head to put the Heli-coil in. I'm gonna ask about the time-sert when I'm there, also will ask how the heli-coil or time-sert will hold up before I commit to anything. I am very mechanically inclined and feel that I could do a time-sert after looking into it, but I don't have a kit to do it. I could just take it over to my friends house who is way more into Ducs than I, he has a bike lift and quite alot of Duc specific tools so I understand, so theoretically I could pull the head and take it to a machine shop for a time-sert, we'll see.

[Langanobob]

Craig, my main concern, whether it's a Heli-coil or Time-sert, is getting the larger hole drilled right.  To some extent the original hole will act as a pilot and guide the drill as it enlarges the hole for the new threads.  But...aluminum is soft and if whoever is drilling is not good, it's too easy to get the bit and hole off on a different angle.

Ideally I think the head should be clamped to a drill press or mill table so that the bit can be properly lined up and the hole drilled in a controlled manner.  But that may be overkill if the guy knows what he's doing.

[CraigD426]

But...aluminum is soft and if whoever is drilling is not good, it's too easy to get the bit and hole off on a different angle.

I agree, but if the dealer or whoever does the insert messes it up, it's on them, or at least thats how I see it. The dealer (tech) in question has a good rep in the local community here in North Central Florida, I know quite a few people who speak highly of the shop and the work they do. I had an issue once before with the bike after I bought it and he made it right, no charge. So, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, if it works out, great. If not, "Hey man, better make this right", know what I mean? Anyway, I appreciate the concern. When I know more I'll post up.

[needtorque]

Well, GL but please dont let them BS you into a heli-coil.