What to do about stripped carb float bowl screws?

My float bowl screws are starting to strip - well, actually 2 of them already are stripped and I'm unable to fully tighten them.

I swear I'm being as gentle as can be, but I believe they were already stripping before I got them...

If this happened to any of you guys, what do you do about it? I assume I'll have to tap them (I've never done that). Is there a standard larger screw size?

Thanks...

EDIT: I need to clarify - I mean the aluminum/aluminium threads in the carb body are stripping - not any part of the screw iteself. The screws are fine.

Post edited by: biquetoast, at: 2005/10/09 21:34

just went through this with my 81 kz 440b, to get them out if you can get another set of hands have someone hold carb while you get the screw in place put some weight behind it, and hit back of screw driver with rubber mallet. as you strike try turning the screw driver. it worked for me then i ordered oem replacement screws from bikebandit. hope it works for you.

I think your screws are M4... I would tap out to M5 or maybe No. 12x24 tpi SAE. Just about any decent hardware store should have the taps and screws.

As for the tapping part, get a decent tap handle, not the cheapie (~$10?) and go slow. I usually work a quarter turn at a time and work it back and forth along the way. Use some sort oil as well. Should be a piece of cake.

Good luck,

well heres an old biker trick I learned frm an old biker.. for fine thread screws take a peice of multy stran copper wire and pull out some of the "hairs" of copper and lay them in the stripped hole ..insert the screw that is sliping and tighten it up , but dont "hog" it. this will usualy allow enough space to be taken up to allow the threads to grab enough to hold... just a hint from an Old biker.

Sounds like a good tip for when your out in the middle of nowhere! Gonna have to try it see how well it works!

Most bowl screws are M4 with standard thread. I repair these with helicoil style inserts and the inserts provide a secure and permanant fix.

I can tell you that epoxy style thread fixer such as Permatex Form-a-Thread does NOT work well on these small threads and will not hold. I have also attempted to use this stuff.

wiredgeorge wrote:

Most bowl screws are M4 with standard thread. I repair these with helicoil style inserts and the inserts provide a secure and permanant fix....

George - I've been wanting to learn how to do helicoils. I've been looking around for the last few minutes on the web for a ready-to-use kit, but it looks like there's a million sizes and stuff. Obviously I need an M4 metric kit, but there are a bunch of different varieties.

Do you know of a good place to get such a kit online? Thanks...

www.tooled-up.com/ManProduct.asp?PID=7743

I ordered a "kit" which includes install tool, tap and many inserts as shown. I ordered from a US company and can't recall name. I would have to dig around in my wife's records to find the company name I think...

Do a google search on "recoil" and 4mm - Recoil is the name of the insert I use.