Internal thread on head cover stripped? Oil leaking gs550es

[Corvette95]

After my last valve adjustment, one of the quarter sized chrome bolts that screws the headcover into the head is stripped. The bolt threads looks good so it must be the head threads. I don't know the thread pitch size. Should I try a thread chaser (and which one) at home or should I take it to machine shop?86 gs550es

[Redman]

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quarter sized chrome bolts
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[Redman]

ah.... all differnt than what I have expereince with on the Gs.

[GregT]

If you're referring to the socket head screws - No 3 in the parts diagram - those are usually 7mm X 1mm pitch.

Suzuki started using them from the ES models and they became very common on the GSXR series. A lot of shops will have experience helicoiling GSXR cam caps after the cover screws have been overtightened.

[Corvette95]

So you?re saying helicoil??

[Corvette95]

So you?re saying helicoil??

I don?t see a 7x1 helicoil?

[GregT]

I don?t see a 7x1 helicoil?

I currently use a helicoil knockoff brand "Recoil" kits - but I've seen 7 X 1 kits in both brands.
But they may be rare in the US which appears to be still holding out against metric sizing....

[Nessism]

The screw goes into the camshaft bearing cap. I'd remove the cap and take it and the screw to a machine shop and ask them to install a helicoil.

[fbody_mike]

Yup like mentioned before, common for the oil cooled GSXR and Bandit engines.

Did you try to use a torque wrench to set it, that is usually what causes it.

[Corvette95]

The screw goes into the camshaft bearing cap. I'd remove the cap and take it and the screw to a machine shop and ask them to install a helicoil.

I haven't used a helicoil before, I found a 7x1 and have on order but I thought you had to drill out the head and install the heli there, what do you mean by removing the bearing cap?

[Nessism]

I haven't used a helicoil before, I found a 7x1 and have on order but I thought you had to drill out the head and install the heli there, what do you mean by removing the bearing cap?

It's exactly as I said. Look in your service manual and look online at the parts fishe. The valve cover screws go into the removable caps that act as bearings for the cams. Remove the cap that has the stripped screws and find someone to install a helicoil if you are not skilled at such things. Regarding the screws being 7x1.0, I'd be sure to verify before drilling into the caps.

[Corvette95]

The screw goes into the camshaft bearing cap. I'd remove the cap and take it and the screw to a machine shop and ask them to install a helicoil.

I found a complete used head off a 83, could I just use the bearing cap off it?

[Corvette95]

It's exactly as I said. Look in your service manual and look online at the parts fishe. The valve cover screws go into the removable caps that act as bearings for the cams. Remove the cap that has the stripped screws and find someone to install a helicoil if you are not skilled at such things. Regarding the screws being 7x1.0, I'd be sure to verify before drilling into the caps.

Would this be a machine shop issue or a motorcycle repair shop issue? Thanks Also see my reply about finding a complete 83 head, could I just use the cap from that?

[Grimly]

I found a complete used head off a 83, could I just use the bearing cap off it?

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.

[Nessism]

I found a complete used head off a 83, could I just use the bearing cap off it?

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.