Heli coil aluminum cover.

[The motor guy]

I want to have a dipstick cover on my outdrive heli coiled. I stripped it out by accident. The issue is just it has a small oil drain hole the is drilled in from the side and that will be covered up by the heli-coil. The dipstick that threads into the cover covers about half the 1/4 of the hole. Opinions?

Can you cut the heli coil so it's shorter and doesn't cover the hole?

 

[The motor guy]

This is a Volvo penta outdrive on a boat btw.

 

[funflyer]

Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
I want to have a dipstick cover on my outdrive heli coiled. I stripped it out by accident. The issue is just it has a small oil drain hole the is drilled in from the side and that will be covered up by the heli-coil. The dipstick that threads into the cover covers about half the 1/4 of the hole. Opinions?

Can you cut the heli coil so it's shorter and doesn't cover the hole?


If you're going to use a heli-coil, get the right length as there's several to choose (usually). I looked up that cover and it looks like that drain hole is pretty far down the threads so a shorter thread insert should work fine. Although you might be better off with a Time-sert instead of a heli-coil. Hopefully that thread size is not an oddball that limits your choice of inserts. Good luck.

 

[The motor guy]

Any idea what the cost would be to have a machine shop do this repair?

 

[Linctex]

A shorter heli-coil could work, but I would opt for a solid insert instead.

Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
Any idea what the cost would be to have a machine shop do this repair?


Starting rates are probably $50-$60 and up from there

 

[The motor guy]

Originally Posted by Linctex
A shorter heli-coil could work, but I would opt for a solid insert instead.

Originally Posted by motor_oil_madman
Any idea what the cost would be to have a machine shop do this repair?


Starting rates are probably $50-$60 and up from there



I agree as long as it doesn't cover that hole and is still covered by the oring on the dipstick so water doesn't get in.