Valve cover bolts stripped cover.

[89katana750]

Has anyone run into this problem? They stipped the cover tread with the valve cover bolts like slicing fresh pie? 3 of mine stripped with no force whatsoever, 5lbs of force. What should I do now?

I took the bolts out and the tread that was stripped came off with the bolt.

[duff daddy]

ok so if the bolts are out all you have to do is drill and re tap the treads, if hte bolts are still in the head, you need to drill them beeatches out, get a drill a lil smaller then the size of the bolt and go to town, be careful and make sure you dont go in crooked!!!

[ThAzKat]

If you are lucky you can just tap the holes. The only time you really need to drill is to take the hole up to the next size.

[BlackB12]

There are helicoil kits for those bolts. In the future, don't use a torque wrench. Simply snug them up. If it weeps oil, snug them a little more. Problem with using the specified torque is that once the rubber gasket is compressed the valve cover bottoms out and it's real easy to strip them. I use hardly any pressure and mine have never leaked.

Mike

[The CyberPoet]

I hate this issue. I'm not a gorilla, but I can over-torque anything by accident. The oil pan bolts and drain bolt can be particularly problematic (the oil pan retaining bolts at 10 lb-ft).

You might want to look at two products called KeenSerts & ThreadSerts as an alternative to helicoils if you're thinking about going that route. I like them better and they usually last the life of the engine.
You can find info on KeenSerts by going to
http://www.alcoa.com/fastening_syste...79&prod_id=473

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[ThAzKat]

Thread Serts are definitely better than helicoils, made of metal and stronger than the standard aluminum parts. I don't understand why they aren't a standard in high heat area's like the engine of a bike.

[89katana750]

Anyone know the dimensions needed for thread inserts for the valve cover bolts?

[ThAzKat]

Cyber!

[The CyberPoet]

I don't know off the top of my head. I know they're metric...
I'd say take one with you to a mom & pop hardware store to find out by matching it to a suitable identical bolt and taking the sizing off their packaging.

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[ThAzKat]

I don't either, I have a thread pitch tool but I won't be pulling any of those bolts for atleast two months.

I am thinking something X20mm

[89katana750]

I measured 6mmx11mm but I am probably wrong with my measurements. Only measure the thread for length though.

[ThAzKat]

the length will be the whole bolt

[The CyberPoet]

Just for reference, the exhaust header bolts (at least on the 98+, should be the same on the pre-98's) is M8x25 (Metric, 8mm x 25mm).

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[HS2020]

89Kat I will ask the guys at the shop that fixed mine tomorrow and see what size they put in. They had to put helicoils in mine when they redid the valve cover gasket for me(yes I was being lazy). Gald they did it to, one of mine was actually cracked and had to be replaced and that was the part the bolts goes down into and also helps hold the cam in place.

[ThAzKat]

I would much rather use Serts, they are stronger and will never need replaced as long as you take care of the bike. Better than factory IMHO