500 Tappet cover head size

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I know its a pretty basic question but are the Tappet covers an odd size as 16 mm is too small and 17 mm is a very sloppy fit even on the flats never mind any rounded corners?

[Bryanj]

17mm six sided socket or the flat spanner in toolkit that you didnt get!

[Oddjob]

Always 17mm Ted. If not they ain't genuine.

As Bryan says, try ands use a 6 sided socket.

Genuine seem to be better made IMO.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Always 17mm Ted. If not they ain't genuine.

As Bryan says, try ands use a 6 sided socket.

Genuine seem to be better made IMO.

Judging by the marks they are original!

I still have a set of chromed ones from DS that I never fitted to my 400 as the the threads seemed poor quality with what appears to be chrome splatter on the the threads Not worth risking  stripping a thread on the cam cover. I don't have a nut that I could use to try to sort them out.

[taysidedragon]

Always 17mm Ted. If not they ain't genuine.

As Bryan says, try ands use a 6 sided socket.

Genuine seem to be better made IMO.

Judging by the marks they are original!

I still have a set of chromed ones from DS that I never fitted to my 400 as the the threads seemed poor quality with what appears to be chrome splatter on the the threads Not worth risking  stripping a thread on the cam cover. I don't have a nut that I could use to try to sort them out.

Try using a thread chaser to clean them up.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I have a thread file but tbh I do not really know how to use it - its a square looking file covered in bits of differently gapped sections - it was bought for a specific job a few years - I bought the wrong type this is for sorting bolts out not nuts - for starters not sure what thread the cap are?

[Oddjob]

You find the side of the thread file that matches the thread in question. Then keeping the teeth aligned with the threads you just run the thread file along the threads, any burrs etc should be removed by the file.

[Laverdaroo]

I have a thread file but tbh I do not really know how to use it - its a square looking file covered in bits of differently gapped sections - it was bought for a specific job a few years - I bought the wrong type this is for sorting bolts out not nuts - for starters not sure what thread the cap are?

Loads of bits on you tube Ted, picked this at random.Having a thread gauge helps enormously though........


https://www.supercheapauto.com.au/blog/tools-workshop/how-to-use-a-thread-file.html

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Thanks Roo an idiots Guide fits me perfectly!

Mine is double ended so it has 8 different metric thread pitches - that's why I tend to ask what the thread pitch is as my eyes arn't great at the initial checking process plus on these caps there is not a lot of threads to check against like a long bolt.

PS Somewhere I have a set of gauges but it's not just for metric so way too confusing. Having the right tool does not work when there is another tool at the handle end.

[Laverdaroo]

I got a new pitch gauge with some taps I bought and use that. Quick check, match the file size up,sounds like you have the same one as me, and away you go. It’s amazing what you can recover with them, threads that you thought were proper knackered can be nannied up rather well when used with a bit of patience


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[davidcumbria]

I got a new pitch gauge with some taps I bought and use that. Quick check, match the file size up,sounds like you have the same one as me, and away you go. It’s amazing what you can recover with them, threads that you thought were proper knackered can be nannied up rather well when used with a bit of patience


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The steering stem thread ( m24 x1) was damaged during powder coating and to my horror got badly cross threaded when i tightened the stem nut. First time in years - fear and self loathing ! I was looking at a world of pain, cost and inconvenience but on the basis of this thread  bought one of these square files and spent half an hour getting it back in shape. Nut now spins easily with finger pressure only. A narrow escape and a new technique learned. One of the great satisfactions of spending our time doing this and benefiting from the great advice on here👍

[Laverdaroo]

Well done, terribly satisfying isn’t it?



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[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Great recovery story Dave.
I had a similar issue when trying to fit the bearing retainer on my 400 wheels rebuilt by CWC. Local engineering firm made a tap to clean out the thread inside the hub.(damaged when CWC removed the bearings - CWC were not interested)

They gave me the tap - came in handy on my 500 front hub after drilling out the four stake marks to clean out the thread.

[DomP]

How can the threads be cleaned up on on larger internal thread, namely the rear hub thread?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

How can the threads be cleaned up on on larger internal thread, namely the rear hub thread?

Not sure but most probably when you remove the old retaining (left hand thread) it's difficult to remove all the distortion caused when the factory do the four stake points. I have found that a new retaining ring does not want to go in easily beyond half a turn by hand as the Hub threads look flattened so as to speak.

On my rear hub I used a small round file on the inside of the first couple of threads to file out the visible distortion at the stake points. I then used the old retaining ring that I had cleaned thoroughly with a wire brush as a tap (I did not have the nerve to cut across the thread with a hack saw in four places) the old ring went in a good couple of complete turns by hand - I basically tightened it up and took it out a few times - cleaning the thread on the retaining ring as well as WD 40 on the Hub. I then tried my new retaining ring & it went in a couple of turns by hand so I was happy it would tighten up when I fit the bearings etc.

I have not as yet fitted the wheel bearings as CWC rebuild wheels without them in place.