Stripped Threads

[SteveHall64Healey]

On my BJ8, the lower bolt on the clutch slave cylinder stripped it’s hole in the bell housing. Any suggestions on how to deal with this - ideally without hauling the gearbox out?

 

[steveg]

Re: Stripped thread - any advice?

To fix properly, I'd be thinking heli-coil.

Wonder if this would work in lieu of pulling the trans: take an 8mm bolt and cut a couple of lengthwise notches with a grinder to make it into a self-tapping screw, then run it in with maybe blue or orange loctite.

 

[Jack T]

Steve, before you give up, try a slightly longer bolt. I thought one of mine had stripped but discovered the bolt wasn't reaching good threads.

 

[vette]

I agree with Steve. Heli coil ought to do it.

 

[SteveHall64Healey]

great suggestions everyone - thanks. I will try the longer bolt first, then try chasing the thread. If that fails resort to thread repair. What would be the advantage of a thread repair kit over drilling out the hole and starting a slightly large threaded hole - presumably with the next closest larger size?

 

[Michael Oritt]

great suggestions everyone - thanks. I will try the longer bolt first, then try chasing the thread. If that fails resort to thread repair.

Not a big issue, but you would have two different fasteners holding the cylinder in place. Now might be a good time to modify one of them by cutting off the head and making it into a pin to allow for easier removal/bleeding as while you need two to locate the cylinder on the housing you only need one to hold it in place.

 

[Gliderman8]

All good suggestions above! To add to the list, my choice of threaded insert is called a Keensert. Basically, it's a steel threaded insert that has wedges that are driven home to lock the insert in. Here's a short video.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I rethreaded my BJ8's bellhousing last time I had it out; previously, I'd made do with some 'make-a-thread' goop that worked well enough (those bolts aren't particularly stressed). IIRC, I used 'ThreadSert,' not 'HeliCoil' brand, which are equivalent. 3/8" 'fine'--24tpi if I'm not mistaken--bolts are used all over on Big Healeys, so it pays to have a kit handy (in particular, they're used for the front shock mounts, which are easy enough to strip). I use red (strongest) threadlocker on inserts, and I've never had one come out. Unfortunately, I don't think it's possible to drill and tap for inserts in situ.

 

[Madflyer]

There are four ideas given. Chase threads, longer bolt, thread insert, and making is a stud by cutting the bolt head and red threadlock it in. Access is the key I would make both the same. As a rule fine threads tend to strip in Alum. easley so having both the same and studs this can not happen again. Madflyer

 

[SteveHall64Healey]

These are all great ideas. However, I got lucky and a fresh bolt with blue threadlocker is holding well. Next time I have to service the slave cylinder, I plan to attempt to replace the thread with heli-coil or the like.

Steve

 

[Randy Forbes]

All the Healey gearboxes I rebuilt got this upgrade. Keeps the factory-spec'd fasteners too.