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: : : We have a WD45 wide front, power steering with a fully hydraulic loader with an oversized snow bucket. Lot's of weight on the front. The bolt that connects the front stabilizing arms to the bottom of the cast front end piece that slides between the rails is stripped and falls out at the most inconvenient times. Lok-tite and a new bolt did not solve the problem. Would a heli-coil work. I've only heard of them used to repair stripped spark plug holes. If not what would you suggest? Snow will be here sooner or later if the temp. ever drops below 50 here in Wisconsin. : I've used "Lots" of "Heli-Coils" and equivelents.
: Had good results with the Heli-Coil brand on my personal equipment. I've also heard some complaints from others about the coils "Falling out", but this usually happens when they are not put in properly to start with! (Yeah, I've had a couple "Fall out", but that was because I didn't know enough to put them in correctly and I don't do that anymore!) : If you've never used them, here's what's happening;
: 1 you drill out the hole to be "Coiled" (the one the bolt falls out of), (make sure the "Kit" has the drill bit you need included - some "Kits" have the coils and tap only).
: 2 you use the supplied tap to put threads in the nice smooth hole you just made.
: 3 you install the coil(s) to return the over-sized threaded hole to the original size.
: 4 use new hardware to assemble whatever it is.
: 5 be happy... : Example:
: The hole used to hold a 1" bolt with 8 threads per inch (but not anymore because it's wallowed out).
: You'll drill about a 1.125" hole and thread it with the supplied tap (which will have 8 threads per inch also).
: Then , when you install the coil, the hole will be the right size for the 1" bolt, and still have the 8 threads per inch! : The sizes listed are just for talking about, you might need bigger or smaller. : All told, it's fairly easy to do. The hardest part might be drilling the smooth, round (and straight) hole. : Enjoy... I have installed several thousand of these little marvels, and everything Mike said is correct as far as he went. By all means use the Heli-coil brand (more expensive, but worth it), The hole you drill will be only about 1/64 over the original size. When you go to your auto motive store to get your set, it should come in an Orange box. On the end of the box will be the recommended drill size, USE IT even if you must buy one. After you have drilled the old threads out, blow the hole out with air, Thread the hole with the tap provided, it is a special size. Install the Heli-coil, Then use a punch that will just fit the hole to break the small tang off the bottom that you used to install the coil. After you have broken the tang off the bottom it's a good idea to fish it out with a magnet or screwdriver. I always hold a magnet against a small screwdriver, and this magnetizes the screwdriver enough to fish that little piece out. If the installing tool is threaded it is a good idea to then thread this tool back into the hole and give it a rap or two with a small hammer. this will seat the coil in the new threads. If the installing tool is of the design that is not threaded just tap the bolt lightly as you turn it in. These threads will be better than original, and actually hold more. Good luck,and have a G'day. TED
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