Topic: Stripped carb bowls

[Ace Blackwell]

All,

I have two of my four carb bowls with stripped drain holes.  I’m going to have to tap and go with a bigger size bolt/screw.  Is there a best practice among other owners or just go with what ever size and pitch works?

Thanks
Ace

[BenelliSEI]

Ace...... i’ve tried this a few times and not had much luck. I’ll be curious what others suggest. I usually plug them with a wad of epoxy and then clean up another bowl from my spares. I’ve collected a few over the years (from some really terrible barn finds that ended up becoming Parts Bikes). 

[Moleskins]

I’d try not drilling out but re tapping with a finer thread. Use an o ring and don’t over tighten.

[Stev-o]

I’ll be curious what others suggest.

Personally, I wouldnt waste my time trying to repair, I would find replacements.

The big question is how did they get stripped?!

[pjlogue]

Your best bet as Steve-0 said, find replacements.  If that proves hard to find I would fill the holes with J-B weld, re drill and tap after very carefully cleaning the stripped hole so no oil/contaminants are on the metal.  Another option is get Helicoils, cut them to length, insert with J-B Weld and clean up the threads after the epoxy sets up a bit so you have a clean thread.  You woulld need to make sure the Helicoil is in far enough so the O ring that seals the plug has a place to seat against the bowl.

-P.

[Ace Blackwell]

Thanks all. Does anyone know the thread on the drain screws. I took to Lowe’s but it didn’t match any of the standard threads like M6 x 1.0

[jaytee-nz]

Don't know for sure but most Honda "fine" threads tend to be 1.25 pitch.

[Ace Blackwell]

Thanks for all the info guys.

[Keith]

Used ones on eBay?

[HondaMan]

Most of the PD-style carbs with stripped threads can be fixed up by using longer screws. There are usually 3 or 4 more threads above the stripped part. I think the pitch is 0.8mm.

[6adan]

  I have used time-serts on several GL1000 carbs. That way you can use the same screw as stock. You do have to get a kit for each size screw that you need to repair.  To me much better than Helicoils.

[Ace Blackwell]

Thank all,

I looked up both time-serts and Helicoils.  This are inserts or sleeves right?  I'll check in to it further.  It would allow me to use current brass screws as you guys mentioned.  Or I could just tap out and go with a little bigger screw. It wouldn't be original but might be functional.   Could move altered bowls to 2-3 and leave 1-4 with original screws.  Wouldn't be as noticeable to the average person.

In truth I lost the original screws years back (80s)and being young and broke, I found bolts at home that were same size but must have been different pitch.  They damaged the threads to the point that the original brass (or new aftermarket I just bought) will not tighten down.  I was hoping against the odds that there was a trick to getting them to work again lol.

Thanks again