.....uhhhhh.... OPPS!
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 110
From: Connecticut
.....uhhhhh.... OPPS!
Well lets just start off by saying i'm here to learn from my mistakes and I hope in the future i wont screw up again...I was working on my engine earliar today and was trying to reinstall my power steering pump. All the bolts were just out of allignment, I and tried pushing the pump to where it needed to be. I thought it was all good so i put the bolt in. As i was tighting it to the head the bolt fell out with a pop and I realized the thread hole had fallin apart due to the tension and angle of the bolt. Does anybody have any ideas of how to fix this or any tricks to make it work back to normal condition? If so please let me know. The head is made out of Iron.
THANKS! -Mike
THANKS! -Mike
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,635
From: state of confusion
Got a picture?
If the hole isn't too badly damaged, and you're patient, reasonably skilled with a hand tap, and somewhat lucky you may be able to clean it up that way. Just don't count on whatever remains of the first few threads for anything and be careful torquing the bolt afterward so you don't strip what threads are left.
If it's worse than that, or you botch the above method by cross-threading the tap with the existing threads, you may be able to heli-coil repair it. Same deal with the above patience, etc., plus you absolutely must keep the drill bit aimed straight down the existing hole. Otherwise you'll end up with a perfectly threaded but cockeyed hole and the bolt will never ever screw in straight again. Never mind how I might know this.
Norm
If the hole isn't too badly damaged, and you're patient, reasonably skilled with a hand tap, and somewhat lucky you may be able to clean it up that way. Just don't count on whatever remains of the first few threads for anything and be careful torquing the bolt afterward so you don't strip what threads are left.
If it's worse than that, or you botch the above method by cross-threading the tap with the existing threads, you may be able to heli-coil repair it. Same deal with the above patience, etc., plus you absolutely must keep the drill bit aimed straight down the existing hole. Otherwise you'll end up with a perfectly threaded but cockeyed hole and the bolt will never ever screw in straight again. Never mind how I might know this.
Norm
Last edited by Norm Peterson; Jan 19, 2009 at 03:33 PM.
5th Gear Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,100
From: Texas Hill Country
Iron heads are cast iron. There is not much that can be done to repair cast iron. Maybe a skilled welder could do something for you. I have seen cast iron breaks that my buddy has fixed, but it is not a great fix and he had a little bit bigger piece to work with.
