Topic: cb750 Stripped Alternator Cover bolt

[efyou]

Aloha;

Well I bought this thing so I'd have something to play with after I finished personalizing (i.e. spending $$$) the Harley, and it hasn't disappointed yet!  Was chasing down a small oil leak yesterday and discovered that the lower front bolt (right below the  dowel pin) on the alternator is stripped.  I got so freaked when I discovered the threads from the case wrapped around the last 1/4 inch of the bolt, that I didn't check to see if someone had used  the wrong (too short) fastener.  If it's not the wrong fastener (and I can't use a longer one to get to good threads) what is the best way to repair?  Is Helicoil my only option?  Or is there something less forgiving (Assume Helicoil must be drilled exactly straight cuz this is a gasket surface, and it's tough but not impossible to do while on the bike)?

Tried to attach a drawing but cant tell if it's there.  If so the hole that's stripped is the one below #22.

Mahalo

[bigvincent]

Same exact bolt stripped on me this weekend. i went and got the helicoil M6x1 kit. Worked great and took maybe 15 minutes to do. I was also concerned about drilling the whole straight, but the drill pretty much just followed what was already there. Its only a 1/4" drill bit, so its not too bad.

[hevykevy420]

I agree with bigvincent.  and, if you're planning on working on/maintaining this bike, M6 helicoils will become your best friends 

Learn from my mistake- If you rebuild the top end do yourself a favor and just helicoil ALL of the threads in the head.  that way you won't have my dillemma...trying to repair stripped camshaft tower threads after you've installed the entire cam/rocker assembly.

This should be fun to sort out 

[efyou]

Mahalo guys.  I was kinda worried about having enough (base) metal left for a helicoil.  I feel a lot better now knowing someone else has successfully made this same repair.  Is the alternator cover the only one that has to come off, or does the side tranny cover have to be removed too?

[BobbyR]

You can also go up one thread size and retap the hole.