Helicoil in windshield frame

[markberry]

Hi All,
has anyone repaired a stripped out (Bugeye) windshield frame with a helicoil? I'm referring of course to the three holes on either side that the pillars screw in to. if so could it be accomplished with the windshield still in?
thanks
Mark

 

[bugedd]

Haven't helicoiled, but I just got mine back together yesterday from polishing and new rubber, and one was stripped. We solved it by putting some pliers on the rib it's drilled into and pulling and bending it ever so slightly toward the drilling. It was enough that with a longer screw and now it holds well.

 

[The_architect]

Hi Mark
I had to drill all of them out. I went to a screw that was one size larger and tapped the frame. The frame is hollow metal, and pretty thin--so I am not sure that a helicoil would work that well. Other than up and down shearing loads these screws have very little stress on them. The horizontal loads that occur when you are driving are absorbed by the uprights. Good luck! CL

 

[Rut]

Mark,
I repaired mine with a helicoil kit and it held well.
Rut

 

[The_architect]

Well, there you go! :smile-new:

 

[markberry]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Any considerations with the helicoil Rut? I noticed the thin hollow tube construction as well.
mark

 

[Rut]

Mark,
I just bought the kit with about a dozen coils, tap and installation tool. I messed up the first one by not inserting it far enough, but it was easy to extract and reinsert.
Rut

 

[markberry]

Mark,
I just bought the kit with about a dozen coils, tap and installation tool. I messed up the first one by not inserting it far enough, but it was easy to extract and reinsert.
Rut

thanks Rut.

 

[apbos]

Hi Mark
I had to drill all of them out. I went to a screw that was one size larger and tapped the frame. The frame is hollow metal, and pretty thin--so I am not sure that a helicoil would work that well. Other than up and down shearing loads these screws have very little stress on them. The horizontal loads that occur when you are driving are absorbed by the uprights. Good luck! CL

I did the same with mine and used stainless socket cap Allen screw. Not factory, but I can pull them again, without trouble.
Paul

 

[markberry]

Originally Posted by The_architect Hi Mark
I had to drill all of them out. I went to a screw that was one size larger and tapped the frame. The frame is hollow metal, and pretty thin--so I am not sure that a helicoil would work that well. Other than up and down shearing loads these screws have very little stress on them. The horizontal loads that occur when you are driving are absorbed by the uprights. Good luck! CL

I did the same with mine and used stainless socket cap Allen screw. Not factory, but I can pull them again, without trouble.
Paul

Did you guys need to enlarge the countersinks in the pillars to accept the larger screws?

 

[apbos]

Not to countersink, but I think I may have had to increase the hole diameter very slightly.

 

[The_architect]

Same here, but it doesn't take much--the aluminum uprights are very soft.

 

[TulsaFred]

I used stainless solid threaded inserts. Like these: https://www.ezlok.com/cds_catalog_product.php?id=303_006
Worked well. My frame had been drilled and/or rounded out at most of the screw holes.

 

[markberry]

I used stainless solid threaded inserts. Like these: https://www.ezlok.com/cds_catalog_product.php?id=303_006
Worked well. My frame had been drilled and/or rounded out at most of the screw holes.

Thanks Fred!