Cylinder head bother

[mike the bike]

I've been having fun a games with the replacement head.  Two of the rocker cover bolts had sheared off (not my doing) so I tried drilling them out with my crappy 50 quid pillar drill.  Needless to say, they were a bit out but I tapped them anyway.
After refitting the head, cam etc those 2 bolts wouldn't go in because the holes were a bit out.
I then took the head to an engineering bod who does engine work.  He spark eroded the old bolts out but couldn't re-tap to M6.  Instead, I get my head back tapped to M8.  I wasn't over happy with that so I had a bit of a think.
I bought a length of 8mm aluminium tube from B&Q and tapped an M8 thread on the outside.   I then cut two 20mm lengths and threadlocked them in the M8 holes.  After leaving it a bit for the glue to go off I tapped the middle to M6, ready for refitting - again.

Getting there, slowly.

[Bryanj]

Try googling keenserts mate

[mike the bike]

Never heard of Keenserts, I was looking at using Timeserts but there's not enough material to play with - too close to the edge.  I've done it now anyway and it's not going to need a gread deal of torque for those bolts.

[mike the bike]

Ready for re entry.  I've left a lot of stuff off to a) make it lighter and b) easier to torque things up when its in the frame

[Johnwebley]

Ready for re entry.  I've left a lot of stuff off to a) make it lighter and b) easier to torque things up when its in the frame

  the motors looking good


 take care of your back !!!

[petermigreen]

Ditto, Looking very nice Mike.
Peter.

[mike the bike]

Thanks for your concern John, my mate Howard has offered to help, and I'll be using the engine shelf method.

[mike the bike]

Engine is back where it belongs.  That's enough spannering until I get back from hols.