[fullerton]

well, i found a helicoil kit locally and tried it out.

it was quite a ***** tapping new holes, but i got it done.

when inserting the helicoil, the coil would not go in all the way. 3-4 of the 8 or 9 threads of it were still outside the hole.

after breaking most of the coils i purchased, i got one in as far as i could. i tightened the bolt down and it was OK. nothing spectacular, but it was somewhat tight. i will drive with them this way this week, lets hope they hold.



anyone have any tips on inserting the coil into the tapped hole?

[O'Bollox]

i work on airplanes and installed several heli coils.. from what you said, the heli coil insert seem to be too long for the hole, or the hole is too shallow for the insert, either way though, it should hold since you have more than 50% of the threads inside the hole.. granted whatever you tapped, does not support major loads. also, i'm not quite familar with what type of helicoil sets they sell outside the aviation industry, we do use stronger quality material.

...make sure the helicoil insert is a turn or 1/2 turn below the surface of the tapped hole when inserted, because if the insert is just flushed with the surface, theres a chance that it will come lose when the bolt is taken out, epecially when the bolt is a frequent remove and replace fasterner.