16V Cam Tower Plug Stripped
08-27-2011, 08:34 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
16V Cam Tower Plug Stripped
I was reinstalling the 18mm plugs on my cam tower and the last one I went to install stripped. Being extra careful so this wouldn't happen I started by screwing them in by hand as far as I could, then followed up with a 1/4" rachet, and then I torqued them down to 40NM. The first 11 went off without a hitch. As I was screwing the last one down using the 1/4" rachet I felt resistance, so I stopped. When I started unscrewing it would only turn a 1/4 turn and then stop. After 30 minutes of slowly turning it back and forth, using Kroil as lubricant, the threads on the plug finally gave way. Funny thing is I visually inspected the threads on both the plug and the cam tower before hand. Any suggestions for a fix?
08-27-2011, 09:04 PM
#2
Team Owner
this is what i would do ...
BUT first more info is needed, what hole stripped a lower hole or upper one?
if its lower then i would use JB weld and that will secure it till your ready to remove the tower, then heat it with a torch to remove it
if its Upper, get some PTFE loctite pipe sealant and put some on the threads,
screw it back in let it set for a few hours,
if this starts leaking then use JB weld
In either case use a new sealing washer,
and make sure to clean out any metal that may have fallen into the tower
BUT first more info is needed, what hole stripped a lower hole or upper one?
if its lower then i would use JB weld and that will secure it till your ready to remove the tower, then heat it with a torch to remove it
if its Upper, get some PTFE loctite pipe sealant and put some on the threads,
screw it back in let it set for a few hours,
if this starts leaking then use JB weld
In either case use a new sealing washer,
and make sure to clean out any metal that may have fallen into the tower
08-27-2011, 09:05 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
First thing I would do is determine is , the cond of the threads on the cam tower . A plug is replacable no big deal. The tower you have two choises , first is to take the tower off and rethread or replace it , or if the damage is minor run a tap through it covered in grease to p/u the metal bits . Tower off is the proper way.
08-27-2011, 09:19 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
Thread Starter
I should have mentioned that I want to keep the cam tower and not replace it, though if I have to I can as I have a spare. The problem is I just spent an un-Godly amount of time prep'ing and painting the towers and really don't want to have to do another if I don't need to. The threads on the plug came out and are still in the tower. I'm guessing the plug is much softer than the tower so maybe I got lucky. I'm going to start by just taking the tower off and running a tap through it to clean up the threads but I'm not sure how strong they'll be after I do. I was hoping maybe someone here as done this before with success. I thought of the JB Weld fix but that's the kind of thing that would keep me up at night
08-27-2011, 10:47 PM
#5
Team Owner
AHH , OK so you just need a new plug so no fancy thread fillers are needed,
if you can remove the plug,
then take out a good plug and use it to match up the threads and go buy a tap for the housing,
fill the tap with grease then gently screw it into the tower, this should remove the old plug threads,
and then all you have to do is make sure that no other metal bits fell into the tower,
then fit a new plug
if you can remove the plug,
then take out a good plug and use it to match up the threads and go buy a tap for the housing,
fill the tap with grease then gently screw it into the tower, this should remove the old plug threads,
and then all you have to do is make sure that no other metal bits fell into the tower,
then fit a new plug
