Well I had a helicoil pull out of the bike over Labor day and since it was for the jug bolt it caused all kinds of problems. Turns out a dowel was somehow missed when the jug was put back on and allowed everything to move all around resulting in a leaky base gasket, loss of vaccum pressure (130 psi of compression resulted) and a broken base bolt on the left rear side of the bike. Now I've got a few options, another helicoil; weld and retap, or a keen set. I've never used a keen set before but from what I understand its pretty good. The problem is I'll need to buy the right size and the tool to install it and all in all I'm looking at 100 bucks. The local shop has one but not the right diameter for what I want and each size takes its own tool I guess. So what do you guys think my best option is?

 

Heli coils work just fine. I have found many times they are even stronger than original if installed correctly. I have seen many repaired in the exact location yours is damaged. The main reason for that getting stripped is the short bolt being used there in error. I bought the set from NAPA because it contains everything you need like bits taps etc. The oil lines and such use the same size.

 

I think you mean keensert I use these at work all the time and definitely prefer them to Helicoils. Having said that, if you have got good threads left for the helicoil I would put another one in. It will be much cheaper and if it gets put back together correctly this time it should be fine. The keensert may also wipe out the dowel hole, as it is fairly large for the thread you get on the inside.

 

Thanks scholle, seems you're always there when the tough questions arise and I appreciate it. A friend at a local fastner shop told me he can get ahold of the pieces I need for a lot cheaper than I had originally been quoted. I'm going to end up using a helicoil in the base gasket bolts and I think he's got the keep set I need for the jug bolt, if not I'll just heli that one too. I lucked out and will be able to get by with a re-ring instead of a new piston and bore job so the bike should be back together sooner than later. I'll stop by Napa and pick up the tools I need, thanks again for your help.

Edit: Yep MWQ that's what I meant. I have literally no experience with these and as you can see I'm not even referring to it by its correct name.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-blush.gif[/img][img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img] As I said I think I'm going to be using one of those in the jug bolt and a helicoil for the base gasket bolts on the left side of the engine. Thanks for the info and clearing that up for me.

 

I am a mechanic and These work better than anything else i have ever tried. Helicoils have a nasty habit of moving

 

Hey Dog, good to hear from ya again. Here is my take on heli-coils. I put a zillion of them in aircraft engines when I was working in the aircraft industry. They are good and tough and work great in aluminum. I highly recomend that you put them in with red Loc-tight. They are in there for good that way.
I have not used the other pin type inserts that others have recomended. I have heard they work great. I have a machinest friend that really likes them. If I had a sparkplug hole that got stripped out, I would use the pin type insert and not a Heli-coil. I had one back out once, so it soured me on them for that type of work.
I agree with you; the Keensert is VERY nice, but damn, what do they make these things out of? Gold?