Anyone used a Time-Sert thread repair kit?

[kristofrogers]

I have two trikes and two drain hole issues. My 85 T3 is just a little stripped and leaks slowly so I used Teflon tape and that works for now. My 84 T3 has a smooth drain hole....and a weird rigged rubber plug, that's now workin' for me. So, I've come across the Time-sert kit online and I'm thinking about picking it up for the Tecates. Anyone had success with these kits? They seem pretty straight forward but what do you guys think about it?

[200XMichigan]

There is an article about them somewhere on 3WW. Haven't used them myself but everyone who has really likes them. If it were me I would use them. They seem better than a heli coil and really the only other option.

[kristofrogers]

Cool deal. Well, I suppose after I finish my brothers kx250 project I'm gonna get down to business rethreading some holes lol. You think it can be done while still mounted in the bike or does the whole engine gotta get popped out?

[200XMichigan]

When you drill it for the time-sert some shavings will get in the crank case. I would flush it out real good. Seems like it would be easier to pull it, unless you could raise it up real high. I haven't done it but if it were me I think I would try to flush the crank case with some solvent that didn't leave any residue to get any oil out and let it dry. Then after you drilled it any shavings would have much to stick to and you could probably get a lot of them out with a shop-vac. Then flush it a few times to get any other shavings out.

You might not have to do all that and could just pour a lot of oil through to make sure it gets all the shavings out.

[MonroeMike]

http://www.3wheelerworld.com/showthread.php?94098-Another-way-to-repair-threads-time-sert-tutorial

[cosmohawk]

I bought a set of Time-Serts to fix the four main stud holes on my '85 XR250. The idea behind these is great, and I was quite surprised because no one around here uses them...everyone is just dead-set on using Helicoils to fix every problem. My problem was that the stud holes had been stripped before. I drilled, tapped, and put in Helicoils...but the next time my top-end went because of a nasty breakin...one of the studs ripped out the helicoil, and the threaded aluminum with it.

So...from there, my only real solution was to use Time-Serts. They're great...thicker, stronger, and basically create an anchor point that is stronger than the original. The original being steel bolts threading into an aluminum cylinder...now it's steel bolts threading into reinforced steel inserts. They will not come "unglued" as they say.

I can't believe that they are not used more often.