Stripped screw hole

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Oct 4, 2019 | 01:01 PM

almostakeeper

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From: Gruene Texas

Stripped screw hole

When I installed my rebuilt oil pump last night, the top outer screw wouldn't grab. There's no room to drill out and helicoil. Is tapping out the 1/4 x 20 to a slightly larger metric screw a solution or ?

Oct 4, 2019 | 03:42 PM

carlgrover

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From: Decatur, Alabama

Here's a little bit of a longshot fix. Get a longer screw and see if it will catch. Then if it does you can adjust the length accordingly and save the day.

carl

Oct 4, 2019 | 03:52 PM

ChopperBill

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From: USA

Some times a metric is slightly bigger or/and has a different tread pitch. I’ve been able to worry one in at times. A little loctite helps to. I believe loctite has a Bearing mount type product also that may fill the gap in stripped threads

Last edited by ChopperBill; Oct 4, 2019 at 04:04 PM.

Oct 4, 2019 | 03:57 PM

TwiZted Biker

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From: Niles Canyon Ca.

If there's room to go a bigger bolt there's room to helicoil it. 1/4-20 is .014" bigger than 6mm, next size up would 8mm in metric and again close to 5/16". 5/16 =.3125" , 8mm =.3150". OD of a 14-20 helicoil is a bit smaller than this size, mean OD thread size is smaller than these numbers. Tap the hole a few threads deeper and use a 1/4" stud set with red loctite and go gentle on the retorque if you feel you cannot helicoil it. Those bolts don't take much torque anyway or you'll distort the pump body.

Oct 4, 2019 | 04:35 PM

DanHappy

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From: Pittsburgh, Pa

Sorry but what do you mean it does not work? Is it too short or the hole does not line up or the bolt has thread lock on it or the bolt your using end has a burr...etc...

Take it apart and try the bolt you been using in the hole. Does it screw it without anything covering the hole?

Details man!

Oct 4, 2019 | 05:32 PM

Zerk

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From: Straight Jacket Memories and Sedative Highs

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHappy

Sorry but what do you mean it does not work?
Details man!

I think he meant, the hole is stripped. Judging by the title of the thread and his description.

While I do think there are options, I am curious what it cost to replace. Probably more than I want to spend. I am sort of ***** about this on critical stuff. I realize gearheads have been doing to for years. But it is easy to spend someone else money.

Last edited by Zerk; Oct 4, 2019 at 05:33 PM.

Oct 4, 2019 | 07:25 PM

almostakeeper

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From: Gruene Texas

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanHappy

The hole has stripped internal threads. Being aluminum it's possible the PO didn't use a torgue wrench and just cranked down, stripped it and then inserted a cheap fix. I was finger tightening the bolts using only an allen socket and it just kept turning.