Subject: [s-cars] FYI - Q: Anyone have experience with "Time Serts"?

[CyberPoet]

Actually, I might use them [time serts] for a totally non-list related
(but list-relatable) repair: oil drain bolt (steel) ate up the oil pan
threads (aluminum) on my motorcycle. The bike has the same arrangement
as the Audi did before I went with the fumoto drain plug: soft aluminum
oil pan, hard steel oil drain bolt). It's either that or devising some
other solution that will permit me to reline the threads with steel
(weld in a nut? insert a hollow steel sleeve with threads on both
sides, then secure with nuts?) so that this oft-repeated episode
doesn't occur again... And yes, the replacement oil pan is on the way
(thank god motorcycle parts are cheap: $45, used, including shipping --
new would have only been $138), but that doesn't change the aggravation
issue when I used a torque wrench to factory repair manual specs & it
eats it up.

Thanks for all the feedback! Keep it coming if you have any more
comments or insight on a permanent fix for this issue (which inevitably
affects the audi crowds as well from time to time)...

=-= Marc Glasgow


On Friday, August 22, 2003, at 03:10  PM, Trevor Frank wrote:

>
> www.timesert.com
>
>
> I second that, but Mike that 914 will eventually need time serts.  I
> posted this to the list along time ago.  Don't want to get into it
> again
> but I discouraged the use of helicoil's to replace spark plug threads.
> Timeserts have special inserts just for spark plugs, higher thermal
> conductivity and a gas tight seal.  Helicoils tend to eat into the head
> and eventually come out, especially on an abused race motor.  They also
> tend to insulate the spark plug, effectively upping the heat range.
> This can not only lead to poor running of the motor, but eventually
> premature failure of the plug and possibly lead to detonation.
>
> I used to run an E-prod 914 and have seen other racers run into this
> problem, especially on this air-cooled, nearly 14-1 compression ratio
> motor.  They tend to be fairly sensitive.  The cylinder with the repair
> required a lower heat range plug and a smaller gap.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Platt [mailto:mplatt911 at yahoo.com]
> Sent: Friday, August 22, 2003 8:14 AM
> To: thecyberpoet at cyberpoet.net
> Cc: Scar
> Subject: Re: Subject: [s-cars] FYI - Q: Anyone have experience with
> "Time Serts"?
>
> I have. They are the best. I have an old 911 with
> magnesium case. The threads often strip out. Normal
> procedure is to tap out all the threaded holes for the
> transmission and heads, then replace with timeserts.
> Mine was done about 10 yrs ago. No problems.
> Mike P.
> 95.5 S6 avant
> 75 911 Carrera Targa (flammable engine case
> timeserted)
> 74 914 (don't need no stinkin timeserts)
> 94 Ford Ranga! (what's a timesert?)
>
> Anybody have experience with these?
>
> http://www.enginetech.com/pr_threadrepair.shtml
>
> Thanks