Helicoil for oil drain bolt on a 1983 GS450E?

[Synthead]

My oil drain threads are stripped! What Helicoil and tap should I use for the factory bolt?

[phydeauxmutt]

I would not use a Heli-Coil for the drain plug. You can go to your favorite auto parts store and get an oversize plug. I think it's an M14x1.25, but measure to be sure. The oversize plugs come in a +1 size or a +2 size. If your stripped plug (likely the oil pan, not the plug) still has a little "bite" to it, get the +1. If you can keep spinning it with your fingers, get the +2.

Oh, and if you DID use a Heli-Coil, it usually comes with its own special tap. It's a size that is not available anywhere else.

[Synthead]

How does the oversize plug work? Do you just torque it in there without tapping anything and call it a day?

Also, is there a reference for the torque settings I should be using throughout this bike? The Haynes manual is severely lacking this stuff

[Synthead]

I'm having a hard time finding an oversize M14-1.25 bolt. Got a link to something I can buy by chance?

[Synthead]

Oh you know what? A while back, I had a car where a spark plug came loose and stripped its own threads, and I still have the kit. The thread size is M14-1.25! I already have all the tools and extra inserts from this kit. I think I might go ahead and just use this kit one more time. It'll have a nice steel thread that shouldn't give me issues or need a special bolt.

[salty_monk]

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-65217-.../dp/B000COCX0E

Pretty hard not to find it with a google search to be honest.....

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=m14+oversized+drain+plug

[phydeauxmutt]

I'm having a hard time finding an oversize M14-1.25 bolt. Got a link to something I can buy by chance?

https://www.autozone.com/external-en...ize+drain+plug

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search?q=overize+drain+plug

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...0051&langId=-1

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=oversize+..._ts-doa-p_1_19

The list goes on.

And on.

Check your current bolt with a thread gauge. It MIGHT be M14-1.50.

[Synthead]

https://www.amazon.com/Dorman-65217-.../dp/B000COCX0E

Pretty hard not to find it with a google search to be honest.....

https://lmgtfy.app/?q=m14+oversized+drain+plug

This is m14-1.5, not M14-1.25

https://www.autozone.com/external-en...ize+drain+plug

https://www.oreillyauto.com/search?q=overize+drain+plug

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/we...0051&langId=-1

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=oversize+..._ts-doa-p_1_19

The list goes on.

And on.

Check your current bolt with a thread gauge. It MIGHT be M14-1.50.

• That's 1/2"-20
• There are no M14-1.25 bolts in that list
• There are no M14-1.25 bolts in that list, either
• Amazon has a M14-1.25, but it isn't oversize

It is M14-1.25.

[salty_monk]

It cuts new threads so I don't think it matters if it's 1.25 or 1.5.... There are a bunch of threads on it here for people that have had success. Do some searching.

[free99]

Having had to do this job myself, may I strongly suggest removing the oil pan and being very careful to ensure that the resulting thread is fully perpendicular to the pan surface. I mistakenly had the angle slightly off and wound up having to machine out the crap threads, and insert an...insert, threaded and properly perpendicular.

Turning a drill press by hand will work just fine.

[Synthead]

I ended up using extra parts from my spark plug thread repair kit I bought a while back. It turned out great! I used high-temp RTV sealant on the threads to ensure that it wouldn't leak. Not that the crush washer wouldn't seal that, anyway.