tap and die vs. timesert

My question concerns the advantages of the timesert kit vs. Using the regular ole tap and die kit. The stripped bolt holes are two cam shaft cap holes on my 83 kz550 m1. I already have the tap and die kit and if there aren't $70 worth of reasons to use the timesert instead of retapping the hole I think I'll go with the tap and die. Also, would it be possible to use the timesert inserts in combination with my tap and die kit? Thanks in advance for any help.

Here's one consideration - If you drill and tap an oversize hole in the aluminum engine and later it gets stripped out you could end up with a really serious repair problem as there may not be enough meat around the hole to drill it out larger to install an insert or to re-tap. The time-sert inserts are steel, so the risk of stripping the threads in them is reduced. Ed

I would use a time-sert or heli coil.

And if the larger diameter bolt doesn't fit through the cam cap hole?

Good Fortune!

The real advantages are increased strength, like Ed said. And the ability to end up using the same bolt, plug, etc, that orginally went there.

Aluminum strips, it just does, it's weaker than steal, especially with repeated cyclical loading (i.e. putting bolts in and out over the years). When you use the insert, you're working against a steel thread that will then distribute its load a little better against the almuninum on the other side of it. It makes for a more durable thread, and if something does happen, you can pull the insert, and put a new one back into the threads the inset was sitting in, without as much drama.

Kraz1 wrote: ...
Click - - - -> Timeserts

See detail info and pics in the link provided by Kraz1.

www.cyclemadness.com/cmforum/index.php?topic=76.0/

Good Fortune!

Alright everyone, timesert it is! Does anyone know if Im able to use the timesert sleve with a normal tap kit or do I have to buy the entire timesert kit? Thanks for all the help!

I believe you will need the kit because it takes more than a drill and tap to prepare and install the inserts. The kit has the drill bit, counterbore, tap, and insert driver along with the inserts. Here's are a couple videos that show how to do it. Ed

I used Time-Sert on the bad camshaft cap threads on my 750. I liked the result so much I did all 16 holes and now take the cams in and out without any worry. One important consideration with the Time-Sert is that you cannot use the counterbore feature since the counterbore tool is slightly bigger than the dowel bore size. The Time-Sert itself clears o.k. and you just leave it sitting on top inside the dowel counerbore - there is plenty of vertical clearance left to accommodate the dowel. Altogether it is an easy job with a better than original result! Good luck.
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