Stripped bolt.

[Kim]

I over tightened a valve cover bolt and stripped it. Is this something I can fix myself? If so, what would I need to do it? Thanks.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

What is needed is a heli-coil or time-cert thread repair kit.

 

A good, careful mechanic can install one with the cylinder head on the bike and not get chips/shavings into the motor. He will also, hopefully, get it installed straight.

 

I would not suggest you attempt same. Take it to your dealer and either pay him to do the job or pay him to remove the head so you can bring it to a machinest to have it done properly.

[99Roadster]

Take it to your dealer and either pay him to do the job or pay him to remove the head so you can bring it to a machinest to have it done properly.

 

Ed, it's just the valve cover. Is it really that critical to install a heli-coil?

[ShovelStrokeEd]

What else are you going to do?

 

The valve cover fastners are special. Its not like you can just drill and tap to the next larger size. You can't get by with just 3 either, it'll leak.

 

In light of the fact that the poster managed to screw up a simple tightening I don't see him getting this done properly by himself.

[99Roadster]

I understand your point of course. But would it not be feasible to use an easy-out on the broken bolt and carefully install the heli-coil without having to remove the head?

Just being courious if not dense.

[Jim VonBaden]

I over tightened a valve cover bolt and stripped it. Is this something I can fix myself? If so, what would I need to do it? Thanks.

 

Simple fix with a heli-coil kit from Autozone.

 

My R11RS came with all 8 stripped from a dealer service. I simply drilled out the holes with a 1/4" drill, tapped the holes with the kit's supplied tap, and installed the heli-coils. Simple job if you take your time. Stuff lint free cloth into all the openings and make sure no filings get into the engine. Took me about an hour to do them all.

 

One tip, make sure you put some tape on the drill bit at the correct depth, measured with a nail in my case, and don't worry, the drill will go straight in if you just don't force it.

 

Jim

[Green RT]

I understand your point of course. But would it not be feasible to use an easy-out on the broken bolt and carefully install the heli-coil without having to remove the head?

Just being courious if not dense.

 

It might if he had broken the bolt but I didn't see anything about a broken bolt. Stripped threads are a different problem.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

He didn't break the bolt, he stripped the threads in the head. Please read.

[BobFV1]

You have heli-coil and time-cert options. These valve cover bolts are easy to strip (DAMHIK). Even if it's not leaking any oil, you need to fix it, because it will eventually leak oil, and our oilheads burn oil even without leaking bolts.

 

My suggestion - have your BMW dealer do the time-cert for you. If you stripped it, I would not encourage you to take a drill to your cylinder head and try to fix it. If the dealer screws something up, it's better than having Greasy Tony at the corner garage mess it up.

 

Oh - check the other ones and make sure they are torqued properly. No need to time cert the others if they seem to be okay. Good luck.

[MachineJoe]

I agree with Ed and Bob! If you haven't done HeliCoils in the past the repair bills for a badly drilled or hand tapped hole will make you cry. It all depends on your experiance.

 

Joe