Internal thread on head cover stripped? Oil leaking gs550es

[Corvette95]

As Grimly stated, you can NOT use a different cap. Honestly, the repair I mentioned is childs play. Why are you so hesitant? Just pull off the valve cover, remove the stripped cap, and find a decent machine shop in your area. Shouldn't cost you more than $25 bucks or so if you bring them the proper helicoil.

I have the cover off and removed the cap, it is stripped clean, where I live I have never had a machine shop not f up whatever I took to them. I am going to have to just pick one and hope for the best. Thanks

[fbody_mike]

Generally you can't get these caps on backwards because of mechanical things like dowels, but you may want to take a picture before removing it so you can put it back on the same way it came off.

[Corvette95]

I have the cover off and removed the cap, it is stripped clean, where I live I have never had a machine shop not f up whatever I took to them. I am going to have to just pick one and hope for the best. Thanks

BTW while I am here, do you use the rubber valve cover gasket with RTV or without, I have used a light coat of black rtv in the past which makes gasket reuse almost impossible, I have a new gasket, is it designed to be used WITHOUT RTV?

[fbody_mike]

See if you can get a local motorcycle shop to give a reference to a machinist. If it is a Suzuki dealer, they will probably have a guy that has done several if not hundreds.

Oh, and how did you strip it? I have been warned never to torque these to spec, rather just use a light hand.

[fbody_mike]

BTW while I am here, do you use the rubber valve cover gasket with RTV or without, I have used a light coat of black rtv in the past which makes gasket reuse almost impossible, I have a new gasket, is it designed to be used WITHOUT RTV?

I always glue the rubber to the cover with a light coat of RTV, but not the head side...except for the half moons, those get lots of RTV.

[posplayr]

[Cipher]

No, not unless you want to kick open the door to a world of pain.
The cam bearings are line-bored and the cam caps are part of that matching set. To use one from another random head is asking for trouble.

I did it an have suffered no woe at all. No shame either

[Cipher]

BTW while I am here, do you use the rubber valve cover gasket with RTV or without, I have used a light coat of black rtv in the past which makes gasket reuse almost impossible, I have a new gasket, is it designed to be used WITHOUT RTV?

good stuff very cery good stuff
cleans in alcohol delightfull source of joy and leakproofness.

https://www.permatex.com/products/gasketing/gasket-sealants/permatex-aviation-form-a-gasket-no-3-sealant-liquid/

[Nessism]

This video shows the use of a mill to be sure to drill and tap straight. This is the critical element to assure a good job. No freehand work because the insert may wind up tilted in the workpiece.

[Corvette95]

See if you can get a local motorcycle shop to give a reference to a machinist. If it is a Suzuki dealer, they will probably have a guy that has done several if not hundreds.

Oh, and how did you strip it? I have been warned never to torque these to spec, rather just use a light hand.

I have no idea , I did not seem to over torque it, didn’t even know it was stripped until I had an oil leak after valve adjustment last weekend. I am going to try to find a machine shop
because I don’t have a drill press and I am sure I would drill it crooked.

[Corvette95]

I called 9 machine shops , no one here even does auto machining. Even called 3 different auto parts place, the place they used went out of business . Actually had a plumber at my house working and I asked him, he gave me the name of a diesel repair shop , I called them, they said they didn?t have an M7 helicoil , but if I brought them the part and the coil they would do it. So I?m without a ride until next week.

[Guest]

this kind of thing sometimes goes smoother if you show up in person with a 6 pack? just my experience

[Nessism]

It's not "auto machining," it's installing a helicoil. Any machine shop can do it (if they want to that is.) Small jobs just don't pay enough to bother maybe? Anyway, don't give up.

[Grimly]

I did it an have suffered no woe at all. No shame either

Good for you. I take it you used plastigage or similarly made sure of the clearance, before just wanging on a random one?

[Cipher]

Good for you. I take it you used plastigage or similarly made sure of the clearance, before just wanging on a random one?

HOW oot of spec could it be