Fixed a bad thread on one of my cross brace bolt holes, I noticed earlier this year that it would not tighten up and the thread was slipped.
most of us probably know how to Helicoil a thread, but a bit of a how to for the benefit of someone who doesn't.
It also gives me a chance to test out my shiny new repair kit, a whopping £25 off E-bay!
So onto my ramps and....
First the cross brace bolts have to be undone, the dodgy thread bolt removed
and also the one in the centre of the brace that fixes the brace to the underside of the spare wheel bay. I also slackened off the diagonally opposite bolt, just enough so I could shift the bracing bar out of the way.
Now the brace bar can be shifted away from the hole to allow access. You can see how bad the thread is!
The bolts are M10 so Use the M10 insert drill bit from the kit and drill out a tapping hole for the new insert.
Good idea to wear gloves and safety glasses here, the swarf drops downwards and is still nice and hot when it falls onto the back of your hand or eyeball!
Once the hole is drilled to size, use the tap that is supplied with the kit to tap out the hole to receive the new thread insert. Use a tapping lubricant and I usually turn the tap 1/4 clockwise to cut, then 1/2 anticlockwise to clear the swarf. Just how I was taught when I was an apprentice and it works. Do not try to tap the hole in one cut, as a broken tap is a pig to remove!
Now the M10 insert can be place on the applicator and screwed in to the new thread.
Once the insert is in and flush, use the bosher punch to break the small centre spigot off the insert, this is not needed and is only useful when screwing the Helicoil in.
Now the brace bar can be re-positioned and the bolt screwed back in. I used a smear of grease on the bolt shank to seal the thread before I screwed it in.
Now check the Torque setting for the bolt. In this case 30Nm
And torque up....
Now the centre bolt can be re-fitted and torqued and the opposite bolt torqued up.
Jobs a good-un and its time for a beer!
Sundance