Stripped plug hole - what now?

**p38arover** · 30th March 2008, 09:23 AM

The answer might be this: Don't use a Heli Coil.* Repair Stripped Spark Plug Hole Threads Fast!* The Back-Tap is the superior thread chaser.

An interesting idea. Look at the video, too.

**CraigE** · 30th March 2008, 09:48 AM

Looks interesting.

**rick130** · 30th March 2008, 11:00 AM

I've always wondered about swarf with heli-coils and plug holes, and it would be the same with this clever little tap.

Any one's thought's ?

**p38arover** · 30th March 2008, 11:12 AM

Originally Posted by rick130

I've always wondered about swarf with heli-coils and plug holes, and it would be the same with this clever little tap.

Any one's thought's ?

I think that's why, in the video, they say to grease the tap - it would catch the swarf. I doubt there'd be much swarf as one is clearing the thread, not making a new one from scratch.

Tsk, tsk! No apostrophe in plurals!

**rick130** · 30th March 2008, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by p38arover

I<snip>

Tsk, tsk! No apostrophe in plurals!

apostrophe man strikes again !

(and that's the first time Ron has caught me out

)

**rick130** · 30th March 2008, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by p38arover

I think that's why, in the video, they say to grease the tap - it would catch the swarf. I doubt there'd be much swarf as one is clearing the thread, not making a new one from scratch.

<snip>

Which is what we were all taught to do when drilling or tapping into something critical that's still assembled, but I've never been comfortable with it.

**p38arover** · 30th March 2008, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by rick130

Which is what we were all taught to do when drilling or tapping into something critical that's still assembled, but I've never been comfortable with it.

I agree but I wonder if, on an alloy head, the tiny bits of swarf would be a problem. I suppose one could make up an attachment for the vacuum cleaner and stuff it down the plug hole to suck up any swarf.

**p38arover** · 30th March 2008, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by rick130

apostrophe man strikes again !

(and that's the first time Ron has caught me out

)

NO! It's the first time I've corrected you!

**fraser130** · 30th March 2008, 11:39 AM

You tell 'em Ron!!

I would think alloy swarf would be of little importance as it is a lot softer than rings and cyl walls, and without the cooling that a piston / head gets it would oxidise fairly quickly if it somehow managed to stay in the combustion chamber.
I think the real culprit/problem is prolonged exposure to abrasives (sand, dust, etc)
Even through a turbo I recon the alloy would be too soft to cause any issues and the high temperatures would once again melt/oxidise it (again if it managed to stay there).
Just my guess.

Fraser

**101RRS** · 30th March 2008, 11:39 AM

I had stripped a plug hole on my subaru and had a helicoil put in. The guy moved the piston down a bit and then placed a piece of lint free rag down the hole into the combustion chamber filling it up and then did the job with a vacuum sucking most of the metal up - he did not use grease.

The metal that did go down the hole was held by the rag at the top - he then vacuumed that out. He slowly removed the rag with the vacuum sucking and then used a small computer style sucker to go into the combustion chamber and remove anything else - was a good cheap job.

He said that on a good engine when if first fires, most stuff gets blown out anyway. The reason he did not use grease was that it does catch the metal however it can prevent it also blowing clear when the engine starts.

I hope my grammar passes Rons scrutiny

Garry

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