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Javiwood
Samba Member
Joined: September 03, 2024
Posts: 3
Location: San Diego
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 Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 11:33 am Post subject: Helicoil |
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My buddys Type 1 bug blew the helicoil out on a spark plug that had been previously fixed. My question is: Is it possible to install a second helicoil (obviously bigger) on the repaired spark plug?
Thanks for the help. |
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NAES
Samba Member
Joined: September 10, 2003
Posts: 2177
Location: AREA-52 Southern Killafornia
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 11:37 am Post subject: Re: Helicoil |
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Yes it is possible as long as there's enough meat in the head. Any do-it-all shop should be able to help you out.
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33054
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 3:32 pm Post subject: Re: Helicoil |
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My cylinder heads had been re-done in the 1980s and had helicoils put in all four. One (#2) came out with the spark plug/was damaged, and I threaded in a solid threaded insert and that has held up fine. The threads cut for the helicoil were same as the outside of the solid threaded insert.
I didn't need to drop the engine to fix this. Red Loctite on the outside, anti-seize on the spark plug threads.
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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Eric&Barb
Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004
Posts: 25890
Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: Helicoil |
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Heli-Coil should never be used in a position that will regularly be taken apart, like the spark plugs. Instead a LOCKING SOLID insert should be used. Might try a Time-Sert kit for that.
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zerotofifty
Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2003
Posts: 3750
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: Helicoil |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
| Heli-Coil should never be used in a position that will regularly be taken apart, like the spark plugs. Instead a LOCKING SOLID insert should be used. Might try a Time-Sert kit for that. |
YES, a Time-Sert is the way to go, they rarely ever fail. Helicoils simply are not good enough for this application.
USE A TIME SERT!!!!!
https://www.timesert.com/
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 33054
Location: Hot Arizona
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| Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2025 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Helicoil |
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| Eric&Barb wrote: |
| Heli-Coil should never be used in a position that will regularly be taken apart, like the spark plugs. Instead a LOCKING SOLID insert should be used. Might try a Time-Sert kit for that. |
Yes, I was not happy when the machine shop felt installing helicoils would be better, even though I'd never had any issues with spark plug threads. These were heads bored for my 92mm cylinders, so I couldn't readily remedy that situation.
| zerotofifty wrote: |
YES, a Time-Sert is the way to go, they rarely ever fail. Helicoils simply are not good enough for this application.
USE A TIME SERT!!!!!
https://www.timesert.com/ |
TIME SERTS are generally considered the BEST solid threaded inserts, but require special installation tools. That's why I used traditional solid threaded insert on #2 of my 1835cc engine.
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297 |
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