Liquid metal style epoxy like JB weld etc
Liquid metal style epoxy like JB weld etc
Author
Discussion

mobile chicane22

Original Poster:

561 posts

218 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
Looking to repair an M8 thread that's about 30-40 deep, the bolt it contains is not structural just used to adjust chain tension so no real load on it.

Would using the appropriate aluminium putty such as this work ?

https://sylmasta.com/product/superfast-aluminium-s...

I'm thinking fill the knackered void completely with the stuff then letting it cure then drill and tap as required, Google AI suggests a maximum torque of 15NM for any swing arm bolt.

Anyone done this before how did it go and what product did you use ?

thebraketester

15,817 posts

168 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
Is drilling and tapping up to an m10 not an option?

E-bmw

13,524 posts

182 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
thebraketester said:
Is drilling and tapping up to an m10 not an option?
Much better idea if at all possible.

shtu

4,596 posts

176 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
A helicoil-or-similar thread insert is going to be a much better repair, and isn't especially expensive.

A -very- quick look on ebay found 24mm length inserts, which sounds like plenty for your needs.

edit - as above, going up a size is another option, though that does leave you with an aluminium thread rather than the steel of an insert. Either is better than a glob of epoxy though. smile

ARH

2,139 posts

269 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
shtu said:
A helicoil-or-similar thread insert is going to be a much better repair, and isn't especially expensive.

A -very- quick look on ebay found 24mm length inserts, which sounds like plenty for your needs.
This every time.

mobile chicane22

Original Poster:

561 posts

218 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
Up sizing to M10 and or helecoil are unfortunately not options due to the location of the hole.

I'll be purchasing some of the above linked epoxy's and doing a test piece on a similar hole on some scrap piece before comitting to it

Edited by mobile chicane22 on Thursday 4th June 11:42

mobile chicane22

Original Poster:

561 posts

218 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
mobile chicane22 said:
Up sizing to M10 and or helecoil are unfortunately not options due to the location of the hole.

I'll be purchasing some of the above linked epoxy's and doing a test piece on a similar hole on some scrap piece before committing to it.

also I believe the part I am going to re thread is actually 30-40mm deep

Edited by mobile chicane22 on Thursday 4th June 11:42

mobile chicane22

Original Poster:

561 posts

218 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
Actually looking at it helicoil may work if I can get a 150mm + long drill bit of the correct size

Ritchie335is

2,150 posts

232 months

Thursday 4th June
quotequote all
Look up Time-serts, much better than heli coils.
If you do need to use a chemical metal, JB Weld is thought to be the best from what I have seen.

xstian

2,236 posts

176 months

Friday 5th June
quotequote all
Ritchie335is said:
Look up Time-serts, much better than heli coils.
Agree, although they are rather pricey, but worth it compared to a botched heli coil.

Arnold Cunningham

4,601 posts

283 months

Friday 5th June
quotequote all
Ritchie335is said:
If you do need to use a chemical metal, JB Weld is thought to be the best from what I have seen.
Of easily available stuff, I agree. I compared lots of specs when I had a tricky job a few years back and JB Weld was the best commonly available stuff I could find.

catso

16,511 posts

297 months

Friday 5th June
quotequote all
JB weld is as good as this kind of stuff gets but I wouldn't trust any glue/adhesive/putty repair to hold a thread in anything other than cosmetic.

Either use a thread insert or fill the hole with weld and re-drill it, IMO.

Krikkit

27,938 posts

211 months

Friday 5th June
quotequote all
Ritchie335is said:
Look up Time-serts, much better than heli coils.
If you do need to use a chemical metal, JB Weld is thought to be the best from what I have seen.
Not necessarily: https://youtu.be/jknMrFOGMOQ?si=CoeG88C1IaZ-_umH&a...

Both are more than capable of being stronger than an originally threaded aluminium part.

mobile chicane22 said:
Up sizing to M10 and or helecoil are unfortunately not options due to the location of the hole.
Can we see the part?

catso

16,511 posts

297 months

Friday 5th June
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Ritchie335is said:
Look up Time-serts, much better than heli coils.
If you do need to use a chemical metal, JB Weld is thought to be the best from what I have seen.
Not necessarily: https://youtu.be/jknMrFOGMOQ?si=CoeG88C1IaZ-_umH&a...

Both are more than capable of being stronger than an originally threaded aluminium part.
Indeed, and also more durable if bolts are removed/loosened regularly - As an example, Ducati fit inserted threads into their cylinders to hold timing belt tensioners rather than thread directly into the aluminium for this very reason.

See the 4 tensioner rollers (also M8 threads) on the cambelts here;



I doubt the threads would last very long if they were directly into the heads.

Ritchie335is

2,150 posts

232 months

Friday 5th June
quotequote all
catso said:
Krikkit said:
Ritchie335is said:
Look up Time-serts, much better than heli coils.
If you do need to use a chemical metal, JB Weld is thought to be the best from what I have seen.
Not necessarily: https://youtu.be/jknMrFOGMOQ?si=CoeG88C1IaZ-_umH&a...

Both are more than capable of being stronger than an originally threaded aluminium part.
Indeed, and also more durable if bolts are removed/loosened regularly - As an example, Ducati fit inserted threads into their cylinders to hold timing belt tensioners rather than thread directly into the aluminium for this very reason.

See the 4 tensioner rollers (also M8 threads) on the cambelts here;



I doubt the threads would last very long if they were directly into the heads.
One way to overcome this is to use a stud and nut rather than a bolt, so the thread is only under tension and less torsional forces when tightening and loosening.