Compensator Installation Misadventures
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 10,675
Likes: 95
From: Billings,Mt.
Also,be sure to use some oil on it.
Good advice!
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 98
From: Colorado Springs
Me too. Thanks for the heads up!
Last edited by ocezam; Mar 1, 2012 at 07:48 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 66,948
Likes: 4,573
From: TOAK western branch
Good one putting up your blunder for everyone to see. Member you only need to have as much depth as the bolt is wide to have full strength of the bolt. You will be fine. Little blue/red locktite and all is good!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta, GA
Good advice. I will order a thread restorer and try that first. This was definitely an "oh **** moment", but I know I can fix it.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,377
Likes: 8
From: Atlanta, GA
UPS delivered the thread restorer and the tap several days earlier than expected. The thread restorer did not have enough depth so I decided to use the tap. The first pass using the tap cleaned out the damage but the bolt still wouldn't go in. A second and third pass followed but still no luck. At this point I am shining a flashlight down the hole trying to see what the problem was, but everything looked perfect.
Before I had a cardiac event, I decided to do one more careful pass with the tap and then do a final clean out of the hole. The bolt finally started to thread. I reassembled the compensator and started to torque the bolt. I have to tell you that at this point my heart was pounding and was having visions that the bolt would strip, but the damn bolt went in and torqued to it's final 140 ft./lbs with no issues. I will button everything up when I get a chance. Sometimes you have to declare victory and walk away.
Before I had a cardiac event, I decided to do one more careful pass with the tap and then do a final clean out of the hole. The bolt finally started to thread. I reassembled the compensator and started to torque the bolt. I have to tell you that at this point my heart was pounding and was having visions that the bolt would strip, but the damn bolt went in and torqued to it's final 140 ft./lbs with no issues. I will button everything up when I get a chance. Sometimes you have to declare victory and walk away.
It's just the way I organize my builds. The old parts come off, and go on the bench. All the gaskets, o-rings, and fasteners stay with the componants, and then when I start reassembly, I compare the old clips, gaskets, etc with the new ones. Then the old ones go in the trash, and the new ones go on the bike. When I'm done, there should be no spare parts on the bench. The day I installed the old clips, it was late in the evening, I'd been working a couple of hours past when I should have quit, and I made a mistake. The only guys I know who haven't made a mistake are the guys who pay a tech to do their work for them.
Last edited by Mike; Feb 7, 2012 at 06:26 PM.