Helicoil kits - recommend??

[asteven221]

One of the threads for the anode on my saildrive is knackered. It was like that when we got the boat and as this is the first time out the water I want to fix it so the anode gets a good bond.

Unless one of the experts on this forum advises otherwise I thought a helicoil would be the answer. I have not got a kit, nor have I used one before but it seems straightforward. Can anyone recommend a suitable kit for this job? There are loads on Amazon but frankly I am not sure if they are any good or not. They don't look very expensive at less than £35 for what appears a comprehensive set of tools and inserts. I assume I would need stainless steel?

Thx for any advice offered.

 

[lw395]

I've got a couple branded 'Recoil'. Had them ages. You need a kit for each thread size and £35 seems about right for a tap, a drill, a little screwdriver-like tool and a handful of inserts.
I found the kits effective and easy to use.
Looking at ebay, I see there are cheaper kits and multi-size kits which look better value.
I have no experience of these, but I've bought cheap taps and so forth on ebay and they've been OK.
Something to watch out for, the tap usually has some taper, so needs the hole to be significantly deeper than the insert.

 

[RichardS]

The very cheap ones on Ebay do work but you do have to be extra careful to get the coil down the thread and seated properly so the depth adjustment on the insertion tool has to be set very precisely otherwise the coil tends to uncoil and then you have to try with another. If you only have one or two to do then a very cheap one is worth considering.

Richard

 

[Ian_Edwards]

I've used helicoils extensively on the boat, mainly to repair "plastic" items where the thread has been stripped and you can no longer get enough tension in the bolt to make a seal.
I started off buying an M5 kit from workshopping.co.uk, then an M4 kit, I then bit the bullet and bought a kit with multiple sizes.
Overall, I find them easy to use and really valuable and have managed to repair items of equipment which I would have otherwise had to replace.

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

One of the threads for the anode on my saildrive is knackered. It was like that when we got the boat and as this is the first time out the water I want to fix it so the anode gets a good bond.

Unless one of the experts on this forum advises otherwise I thought a helicoil would be the answer. I have not got a kit, nor have I used one before but it seems straightforward. Can anyone recommend a suitable kit for this job? There are loads on Amazon but frankly I am not sure if they are any good or not. They don't look very expensive at less than £35 for what appears a comprehensive set of tools and inserts. I assume I would need stainless steel?

Thx for any advice offered.

Lw395 mentions 'Recoil' and that's the brand I use - Thanet Tool Supplies are pretty fair value and good service.

If by chance it's 6mm you need, I have a spare that I ordered by mistake.

 

[PabloPicasso]

Any issues likely from using a helicoil made of steel, or stainless, in an aluminium sail drive. Different metals in seawater cause corrosion?

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Any issues likely from using a helicoil made of steel, or stainless, in an aluminium sail drive. Different metals in seawater cause corrosion?

All the helicoils I've used have been ss. I'm just rebuilding a Yamaha ob and will be using them and ss screws so that it's just Alu and ss (and so not adding a third metal). I still haven't decided whether to use Tef-Gel or copperslip as well, but probably the former.

Edit. Yes, there's always a potential (!) problem with steels and alu in water, but it's the same problem that you'd have had for the original screw.

 

[RichardS]

All the helicoils I've used have been ss. I'm just rebuilding a Yamaha ob and will be using them and ss screws so that it's just Alu and ss (and so not adding a third metal). I still haven't decided whether to use Tef-Gel or copperslip as well, but probably the former.

Edit. Yes, there's always a potential (!) problem with steels and alu in water, but it's the same problem that you'd have had for the original screw.

In fact, using a helicoil will be an improvement over the original in that one will now have a stainless steel bolt bearing against a stainless steel thread. The coil/thread might well seize into the alu substrate but that's not going to be an issue.

Richard

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

In fact, using a helicoil will be an improvement over the original in that one will now have a stainless steel bolt bearing against a stainless steel thread. The coil/thread might well seize into the alu substrate but that's not going to be an issue.

Richard

First part is very true. Still best to use a goop though, just to stop the metal salt build up which is the is a bigger problem than the threads fusing together.

 

[lw395]

Must admit I have slight reservations for an anode stud underwater.
Should probably not use stainless?
Maybe use a zinc plated steel stud which makes electrical contact at the bottom of the hole?