Help - Stripped Thread!!!

[Alpinestarhero]

I took my undertray off today, and thought while I was there I'd tighten up a bolt that oil was leaking through. So I had to undo a bolt on the engine cover (right hand side, where the oil goes in) to take off the undertray bracket to get to it. Tightend up the offending bolt, went to put the bracket back on...but the thread has stripped, on the engine point.

So now I have a leaky bike...how do I mend this? I know the thread has stripped because little bits of metal where coming out when I brought the bolt back out

I really don't know what to do, this is way beyond me

Matt

[Pedro68]

Oh bo||ocks indeed Matt ... sorry I'm no help whatsoever ... but I'm sure someone who IS will be along shortly ;-)

Pete

[Stig]

You could try to cut a new thead with a tap. I'd try this first. If that didn't work, I'd get a new bolt the next size up and cut a new thread with the next size tap.

This is what I would do. Not saying it's the best way.

[kcowgergmm]

i would get a tap and run it in well actually first i would make a thread chaser. take a bolt the same size take a cut of wheel and make a grinding notch length wise on the bolt so you cut through the threads so when you run this bolt in it helps clean up the threads. if not use a tap. if that doesnt work come back to me for more ideas

[Alpinestarhero]

Ok, thanks guys. It dosnt look like a difficult fix, but I'l have to conscript someone to help me out as I dont want to balls up making another thread

I guess its unwise to ride the bike...?

Matt

[plowsie]

Matt got same prob with mine i think, daredn't take it off intill i have someone who knows what they are doing next to me :lol:

[yorkie_chris]

I guess its unwise to ride the bike...?

Matt

firs tplease describe in more detail which bolt it is

[plowsie]

firs tplease describe in more detail which bolt it is
Its silver and on the engine casing :smt118

Any help :smt043

[Alpinestarhero]

Plowise is correct! Its on the cover on the RHS (as you sit on the bike) and is silver. Its the bottom most bolt. I've rung my Cheif Engineer (AKA dad) and he said take the bolt out of the belly pan bracket, put on loads of PTFE tape and stick the bolt in; Its might do up if theres enough thread left in the end of the bore hold (its the female part, isnt it?)

Anywa, ydone this, and the bolt is done up nice and tight. I'll leave it for now then, and have a bit of a wobbly belly pan. My dad thinks its because we've had that bolt in and out of the bike loadsa times trying to fix a small oil leak, and its but too much stress on the thread

Oh well, it'll do for now I think.

Matt

[Normski]

You should get it helicoiled - I wouldn't tap the hole out to the next size up, and whatever you do be careful not to force anything too far into the hole and break through the back of the hole. I can lend you an M6 helicoil set( I think that is the thread size) but you need an amount of care to use it!

[Alpinestarhero]

Thanks normski for that kind offer, but I think its alright for the moment, its tightend up quite alright. Certianly enough for me to get to brighton, where my dad can take better care of it. Something I would like to learn though, how to fix these sorts of things - I couldprobably do it, but would need to practise first.

Matt

[Biker Biker]

Are you talking about the Sump nut? where you drain the oil when you change it?

If so I read some stuff on Suzuki Owners Club web page and could see what was suggested?

[Alpinestarhero]

Are you talking about the Sump nut? where you drain the oil when you change it?

If so I read some stuff on Suzuki Owners Club web page and could see what was suggested?

Na, its just an engine cover. I think I'll have to get a pic uploaded so we all know what I'm on about! If it was the sump-plug, I wouldnt be here posting, I'd be up to my neck in a sea of tears

Matt

[Alpinestarhero]

This is the offending item:

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u54/alpinestarhero/strippedbolt.jpg

Matt

[Raf]

Actually the sump plug would have been an easier fix. For the sump bolt a heli-coil would have sufficed and it works quite well (I know this because along with several other muppets I stripped that particular bolt). But anyway back on topic...

I'd take a guess that you stripped the thread on the clutch side of the engine block itself; Thus making the bolt lose enough so that it doesn't make an oil seal. You will need a professional to either retap the hole or helicoil it. Both are specialist jobs best left to someone who knows what they are doing.

Do you need the bike to get around in short notice?

[Alpinestarhero]

Actually the sump plug would have been an easier fix. For the sump bolt a heli-coil would have sufficed and it works quite well (I know this because along with several other muppets I stripped that particular bolt). But anyway back on topic...

I'd take a guess that you stripped the thread on the clutch side of the engine block itself; Thus making the bolt lose enough so that it doesn't make an oil seal. You will need a professional to either retap the hole or helicoil it. Both are specialist jobs best left to someone who knows what they are doing.

Do you need the bike to get around in short notice?

Yea, its stripped on the clutch side (doh). Its not fully stripped though - its now on, and on pretty tight; I've used alot of PTFE tap on the bolt aswell to provide a good seal. Its been leaking alot before anyway, so if it keeps on leaking its no real problem (stinks though as it drips on the downpipe)

I wont need a bike for the moment I dont think, but I'll keep that in mind (assuming you are offering? Oh, btw, it'll have to be something less than 33bhp!!!) just in case.

Im now not taking my bike to bits to clean it. Bikes should be cleaned every now and then (except for the important bits) and ridden. I should have ridden to the Ace cafe instead of clenaing it

Matt

[Raf]

I wont need a bike for the moment I dont think, but I'll keep that in mind (assuming you are offering? Oh, btw, it'll have to be something less than 33bhp!!!) just in case.


Not offering a bike, just wondering if you'd need to bodge something up to get around. And I only have the thou now, the old SV is now on the hands or Mr. Jester.


I'm now not taking my bike to bits to clean it. Bikes should be cleaned every now and then (except for the important bits) and ridden. I should have ridden to the Ace cafe instead of clenaing it


Careful, kwak hears that change in attitude he might have bit of a fit...

I am sure the more mechanically competent people of the forum will come round soon enough and give a more useful diagnosis and fix.

[rictus01]

although you will obviously need to sort out this bolt issue (and there are a number of ways), this probably isn't you original problem, on these bikes the clutch cover is plastic and mounted with an "o" ring, if as you suggest it's been leaking for sometime, then it's probably this has either got a damaged/distorted "o" ring, or more likely been over tightened causing the cover to warp ( funny people seem to think just doing every thing up really tight will sort it?).

I'd suggest you look at this when you address the thread issue as well, it is important to fit the cover with even pressure when doing the bolts up.

Cheers Mark.

[markmoto]

You should get it helicoiled - I wouldn't tap the hole out to the next size up, and whatever you do be careful not to force anything too far into the hole and break through the back of the hole. I can lend you an M6 helicoil set( I think that is the thread size) but you need an amount of care to use it!

+1 helicoil is the way to go ;)

[ridelikeaturtle]

although you will obviously need to sort out this bolt issue (and there are a number of ways), this probably isn't you original problem, on these bikes the clutch cover is plastic and mounted with an "o" ring, if as you suggest it's been leaking for sometime, then it's probably this has either got a damaged/distorted "o" ring, or more likely been over tightened causing the cover to warp ( funny people seem to think just doing every thing up really tight will sort it?).

I'd suggest you look at this when you address the thread issue as well, it is important to fit the cover with even pressure when doing the bolts up.

Cheers Mark.

+1 This was leaking on my curvy and to fix I got my torque wrench, set it to 10ft-lbs (whatever the manual said), and tightened all the bolts to the correct torque, and luckily for me it stopped the leak.

[petevtwin650]

Glad you've got it temporarily fixed Matt.

That's one of the reasons I don't like that Powerbronze Bellypan. There is a lot of extra weight on the small bolt and some tension too as it's not a perfect fit.

[Alpinestarhero]

Got it in one pete, Its not a very good bellypan. No oil leakage, least, no more than usual when I came back to the bike this morning, and no more oil leakage than usual after the bike had been left standing for a few hours after my morning commute.

So all in all, everything ok. I'll leave the bugger alone.

There is now a wodge of blue-tac as a cusion on the un-bolted bellypan bracket point to stop it wacking against the engine :D

Matt

[plowsie]

Matt got it both sides on mine from the same spot :( Noticed it a while but never really took much notice as i only thought it was on the one side.