Went to put on a new timing cover and noticed the top dead center screw turned awfully easy while taking it out. When I went to put it back in, it just spins as it seems the threads inside are stripped. What do you guy's do for stripped threads? Need a way to be able to put the screw in and have it hold. Any suggestions?

 

Ive seen evo models pop riveted on.Dont believe theres enough material for helicoil.Clip nut or tap bigger.

 

if it will stay in but spin....use green loctite or better yet some clear silicone and let the other 4 bolts hold the cover

 

Drill out the screw and tap (rethread). You can buy these two items usually in kit form at the better hardware stores or some auto parts stores. Take another scew from the timer cover with you for sizing. Use a smaller drill bit to drill out the miscreant screw. If the threads are really galled badly, you'll need to go up a size. If you don't want to do that, you could fake it.....silicone a screw in that position on the timer cover. You have the others to hold it on.

 

I guess I should have titled this "stripped threads". The other 4 screws are definitely holding the cover in place. Just the top one has stripped threads. I have seen some mention JB Weld as a fix. Is this stuff any good or will I be fine with the clear silicone? Will the silicone hold up to the engine heat?

 

silicone is best

 

Thanks Bryan. Silicone it is.

 

Do it right and use a heli-coil insert.

 

Black silicone is more heat resistant. Buy at auto parts store.

 

A heli-coil is definitely as permanent a fix as you can get providing you have enough meat for it to get a good bite. We use them in aircraft all the time for stripped screws (figure at least 95% of a modern aircraft is aluminum). A couple of other options are if you can find a suitable oversized screw (one that matches) and tap out the hole to fit and then finally.....there's the J-B Weld route. I've seen that stuff work on broken exhaust manifolds - it truely has a place. What I would recommend with that is if you are unable or unwilling to go with an oversized fastener, clean the hole with brake cleaner, fill with J-B (but leave enough of a depression to center a drill bit) then drill and re-tap to the correct size. Just make sure you give it enough time to cure before you go drilling - CWO



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