stripped cam bolts

i just stripped a cam bolt .Can i just retap to 8mm?(kz900)

the best fix is Heli Coil, just make sure the top end is coverd well so you dont get shavings in the motor

Mark, I have heard that the racers fellas will just tap all the thread to 8 x 1.25 and use 8mm bolts. Problem would be if you stripped one of those... well you would be looking at one big insert bwhahaha I also think there would be a problem using the locating dowels; don't think there is enough meat to be able to drill them out and use them with 8mm bolts. I personally buy RECOIL brand inserts (they sell a kit with the tap, some inserts and the install tools). These work pretty well and they don't strip once installed. If you have oil in the engine, the oil wants to grab all the shavings so as has been noted, keep everything covered good or the oil will grab any metal shavings.

the thing is a heli coil kit costs $80.and u drill the hole out 3/32" large to retap.a 8mm bolt only requires a 1/16" over drill and a $5 tap.Did i just answer my own question?

Whatcha gonna do with the locating dowels that fit between the cap and head? I am not sure how well the cap would fit; in other words, it could be skewed a bit and rub on the bearings? Dunno... I think I would ask around. Maryland Metric sells 6mm Recoil kits and they ain't that expensive as I recall plus the inserts are more solid than the wire wrap helicoil.

I tapped a couple of mine out to 7mm which worked fine but you will likely have to drill out the dowel very slightly. Put the dowel in the cap to drill it out, it holds steady.

I eventually helicioled all mine back to 6mm. You may be able to find a less expensive kit at fastenal or Autozone.

Good luck.

Thanks guys.i see this is a dillema.your right George i would have an issue with the dowel.i have asked about time certs and nowone knew what they were.the big problem is going to be getting at it to drill it out .thats 1 reason i thought i may just try to tap it without drilling?

A helicoil kit isn't $80 unless I've been asleep for a few decades. The last kit I got for the 6mm bolts was somewhere around $10-$15 if I remember right. I don't know timeserts as I've never used them, but can say for sure helicoil 6mm inserts work great. All the cam bolts will eventually strip, mostly if you go the 8 ft/lb or so torque recommended. I stay at 5.5 or so and even then they will strip eventually. I think the aluminum goes soft from heat, because I'd bet it's an exhaust cam bolt that stripped. They will always strip first. If not heat, they must have less threads in the head, because they are very sensitive to stripping for some reason.

They are very expensive up hear i bought an 8mm set of heli's over the winter on sale for $40.I just taped it out to 1/4" 20 for now i could not get at it to drill it out.so i will be taking it out over the winter and fixing it right then.Thanks for the advice.

mark1122;

"i have asked about time certs and nowone knew what they were."

Try the website www.timesert.com/html/mtrcsert.html

I've done the repairs you speak of and I think this product is the best out there. Good luck, shighley

thanks ,i'll look into them.i have had success with heli coils.i like that u can stack in 2 for a deeper threads(i did that with a main bolt hole) withought going out to buy a special length.i take it with the time certs u would need to have differant lengths?