Drain bolt won't tighten? Please help

**ktmsx1254life** · 26th June 2013, 21:48

Hi guys, I have not that long ago brought a ktm sx 125 off trade me as a step up from my old kx,it was fully rebuilt by a shop in Auckland and have the dockets (this was before I brought the bike) today it had done 5 hours so it was time for Oil change, while undoing the drain bolt it came to my atencone that the bolt was just going around and around and not coming out, the bolt is stirped inside off the casing, I had my dad look at it that night here he tryed to undo the cheek bolt, this was every every lose (can move with fingers) and also is wont tighen to the point where I can't move with my fingers, how can I fix this'd two problems ? Why didn't the shop fix them with the full rebuild? As they replaced the oil last? What it the easy way u can fix this?

**scumdog** · 26th June 2013, 21:51

Vice-grips on the head of the bolt, wind it ainti-clockwise while pulling down.

Once you get it out get a heli-coil fitted and you should be sweet.

**ktmsx1254life** · 26th June 2013, 21:54

Originally Posted by scumdog

Vice-grips on the head of the bolt, wind it ainti-clockwise while pulling down.

Once you get it out get a heli-coil fitted and you should be sweet.

ok sweet, where abouts are heli coils brought from? Every body is talking about them but can't find them in shops

**Ocean1** · 26th June 2013, 22:00

Originally Posted by ktmsx1254life

ok sweet, where abouts are heli coils brought from? Every body is talking about them but can't find them in shops

Most engineers supply or general fasteners shops will have them.

But to be honest you're better taking the bike to the shop, they'll do the job for probably no more than you'd pay for the helicoil kit. And they can be a tad tricky to install for the inexperienced.

**ktmsx1254life** · 26th June 2013, 22:05

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Most engineers supply or general fasteners shops will have them.

But to be honest you're better taking the bike to the shop, they'll do the job for probably no more than you'd pay for the helicoil kit. And they can be a tad tricky to install for the inexperienced.

Ok sweet, how much am I looking at for the heli coil kit or for my to take it to a bike shop?

**skippa1** · 26th June 2013, 22:05

Originally Posted by Ocean1

Most engineers supply or general fasteners shops will have them.

But to be honest you're better taking the bike to the shop, they'll do the job for probably no more than you'd pay for the helicoil kit. And they can be a tad tricky to install for the inexperienced.

^^^^^^^^what he said. Helicoil install is not really a home handyman job

**Ocean1** · 26th June 2013, 22:12

Originally Posted by ktmsx1254life

Ok sweet, how much am I looking at for the heli coil kit or for my to take it to a bike shop?

Last time I bought a non-ISO ("normal" metric thread) helicoil kit it was $150 and took a week to arrive. I'd be surprised if any KTM franchise didn't have the gear and know how to use it and I'd say the price should be comparable.

**unstuck** · 26th June 2013, 22:55

You certainly do not want the tang on the helicoil to go the wrong way and end up in your sump, that could be very expensive.

**Akzle** · 27th June 2013, 06:57

fuck that. Run a drill through it and tap it a size up, buy a bigger bolt.

**Banditbandit** · 27th June 2013, 09:59

That's not a job for an amateur either ... that would work but would need professional attention to do it ... especially on alloy cases ...

And you would need to check if there were any other consequences to widening the hole and inserting a bigger bolt .. like is there enough room inside the cases to do that without affecting internal parts or oil lines ?

Helicoil is the safer option ...

**The Reibz** · 27th June 2013, 10:49

Pull the old one off, Drain oil, braze plug back in, fill with oil, sell bike. Chur

**Akzle** · 27th June 2013, 11:58

Originally Posted by Banditbandit

That's not a job for an amateur either ... that would work but would need professional attention to do it ... especially on alloy cases ...

And you would need to check if there were any other consequences to widening the hole and inserting a bigger bolt .. like is there enough room inside the cases to do that without affecting internal parts or oil lines ?

Helicoil is the safer option ...

helecoils still need to be tapped a size up...

**Banditbandit** · 27th June 2013, 12:30

Originally Posted by Akzle

helecoils still need to be tapped a size up...

Yeah, you're right ... I forgot that ... still ... either way it's a professional job .. unless the owner's a pretty skilled amateur mechanic ...

**The Reibz** · 27th June 2013, 14:18

Cover the tap in a shitload of grease and the chips wont enter the sump. I have tapped aloy spark plug holes in cylinder heads this way. All the chips will be extracted but you will have to clear the tap every few turns and re-lube

**Drew** · 27th June 2013, 14:23

Originally Posted by The Reibz

Cover the tap in a shitload of grease and the chips wont enter the sump. I have tapped aloy spark plug holes in cylinder heads this way. All the chips will be extracted but you will have to clear the tap every few turns and re-lube

It's a dirt bike. It would be just as quick to whip the motor out, and remove the sump.

More likely to get it right too.