Helicoils or JB Weld

[MHBill]

I drilled out and retapped some broken bolts. They turned out fairly good but the bolt feels a little loosey goosey particurlary first going in I am contemplating using JB Weld to firm it up before going to helicoil. Any body done this and what was your result?

Has anyone used the tangless helicoils? How have they worked out?

Thanks
Bill

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

If in doubt the helicoil.
Having said that, what bolts are they ???

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

Depends. I almost always use helicoils, but in some situations where there was not alot of "meat" left around the drilled out mess of a hole, and it was a low-stress hole, I have drilled and tapped JB weld. I have a 3 hp water pump that has been running on one JB welded mounting screw for years, but the water pump plate is permatexed to the gearcase, and the pump housing is permatexed to the plate, so the screws basically hold the pump down until everything is dry. Pretty well the only stress is the rotational force of the impeller, which isn't a lot. I wouldn't ever do a critical application with JB Weld, like a head, lower unit mounting bolt or starter bolt.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

I drilled out and retapped some broken bolts. They turned out fairly good but the bolt feels a little loosey goosey particurlary first going in I am contemplating using JB Weld to firm it up........

Unless it is a safety* or critical load item*, I have always gone with an old gunsmith friend's yaw. **** Wells' advice stated: "A 50% thread is 85% as strong as a 95% thread."

Tapped threads always feel a little loose to me as the tap usually has more freeplay than those made in a factory or machine shop.

*EDIT: safety items and critical load items are things like rod bolts and certain other parts. Probably I should have withhold comment until I knew what you were tapping.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

Another option would be to tap with the same nominal diameter, but the UNF series tap. The root diameter on the UNF would be largeer and usually you can retap in soft metals without even having to redrill with the larger tap drill.

 

[F_R]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

Don't screw around with it. Heli-Coil!! I should own half interest in the company, considering how many of those things I've bought.

 

[JB]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

These bolts go where on what outboard??

 

[MHBill]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

I have two on the ower unit 1/4-20 and one on the water pump mount 10-24. This is on a '68 9.5 Evin.

Threads look ok its just that the bolt wiggles mobre then in the original threaded hole.

ANyone have experience with the tangless helicoil?

Thanks

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

I personally would not worry about those bolts. Torque them carefully and properly with an inch-pound torque wrench and if that goes well you are probably good. Would it be better to helicoil them? Probably. Of course without getting my hands on it it's hard to make a good judgement. If they stop rocking when they are 50% threaded in you are probably good- if they are still "loose" until the head contacts then that is in need of repair.

If you are losing sleep over it go for the helicoil- they are not hard to install.

 

[rainman99]

Re: Helicoils or JB Weld

Not a boat motor expert here . But after 20 years as a maintenance mechanic . Enough about the holes lets talk bolts. I must ask are you using new or used bolts ones that may be worn ? You can test them with a new nut.