Guys

So I have installed and removed the frame sliders a couple times for various reasons and this weekend I noticed that the left side was lose. So I went to tighten it and it would not tighten and just kept turning, I'm assuming that I have stripped the bolt location.

My question is what should I do

Drill and re-tap
Add a helicoil

And just as an fyi I have never done neither one so I should have it professionally done correct?

Also is this the engine block and what is the torque spec for these bolts?

Thanks in Advance
cjuni

http://www.timesert.com/

Much better than helicoil...

* Last updated by: roadczar on 6/23/2015 @ 8:30 PM *

If it is the lower bolt, not the smaller one for the side subframe, that is an engine mount. You could try red locktight temporaily if you dare....as long as the mount on the other side is good. I would repair it though.

Thank you roadczar, that is exactly what I was looking for to make bolt holes in the tail frame (if necessary).

Drilling and tapping this will require a magnetic drill press or maybe a guide would work for someone with the proper experience. I recently tried tapping M10 threads in an aluminum part I made and it is not easy as pie the first time you do it. If you want this done right, I'd get it to a reputable shop. I would def try asking a machine shop to do it. I would not bring it to a dealership. Make sure who ever does it shows you that the bolt hole lines up with the motor and threads in smoothly. No crooked shit that almost lines up DAMN, so sorry you have the hassle and expense over such a simple thing.

I think the threads are in the engine. Where the bolt passes through the frame is just a hole. YOu will probably have to drop your engine for this. dammit! Oh well, we've all done this. From now on, torque wrench and calibrated! I usually go about 75-80% specced torque and use blue locktite. Full torque on stuff in the engine, no loktite and make sure that torque wrench is calibrated...it's not hard to do if you have a vice and some weights.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/23/2015 @ 10:01 PM *

cjuni, it just so happens that I was doing work on my left frame slider tonight. There may be a saving grace here. I noticed that with my left slider installed, the bolt does NOT go all the way through the mount on the engine. I did not stick anything in the hole to measure but I cannot feel the bolt tip with my finger so there are prolly at least 4-5mm of untouched threads at the bottom of that engine mount. If so, you might consider this ample to keep the bolt in but I would absolutely NOT torque to spec. The Gen1 is 44 ft lb but I think I'd go with maybe just 15-20 if you only have 5 mm of threads. You might consider getting a longer bolt so it protrudes out of the bottom of the hole and then put a split ring lock washer and a nut on it.......come to think of it, that would prolly be an ok fix even if there are NO threads left. You could get a castle nut like the one on the rear axle and drill a cotter pin hole in the bolt. Use grade 8 bolts and nuts or whatever is strongest (sorry, I'm not more up to speed on this). ...but remember, the frame and engine are aluminum. It strips easy. If you're relying on a few threads, I would not go real heavy on the torque.

just thinking out loud. Hope that helps.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/23/2015 @ 10:23 PM *

Thanks guys I haven't had the time to check it out as to which solutions is going to work for me......but will keep u updated.

Thanks again

Ok so turns out that I can just get a longer bolt and add a nut to it, so this whatmy plan is for 2morrow.

Thanks Again
cjuni

Great! I sense you have not removed the old bolt yet, just stuck your finger in the back of the hole. Hope it goes in without a problem. two tips I can tell you from very recent experience:

1) the unused bolt holes in the frame often have a little pant in them and a bolt will often not go through without feeling like it is binding. You can probably work a fresh bolt back and forth through those threads to get it to go through. I used fine sandpaper to narrow down the first half inch of threads on a bolt and that went through the rear passenger footpeg hole much better cleaning out the paint a/o dirt that had accumulated. Then I threw that bolt out and put another brand new un-sanded bolt in and it went in fine. ...so maybe pick up two bolts, one to clean and the other for the keeper. .....or maybe sand down the OEM bolt and use that to clean. If you can spin a nut over it, it can't be damaged. Remove the cleaner bolt and squirt plenty of WD-40 in the hole as you work to flush out any debris that breaks out of the threads.

DO NOT run a tap through the threads to clean out a little paint and dirt. It will shave off metal too. A dull tap or what is know as a thread cleaner tap would be a lot safer.

2) The threads to the outside are damaged. Will a bolt thread through from the outside and match up with the inner threads that are undamaged? Probably if the bolt you have in now is spinning when you try to tighten it, those outer threads are almost gone....so I would think matching up with the good threads will not be much issue.

just keep that stuff in mind while you work on it. The bolt might feel like it's binding on bad threads but it may only be paint in the threads. Perhaps try cleaning out the threads from the inside out (put the bolt in from the inside so the tip threads toward where the slider mount was)....or maybe it would be harder to get the bolt started where the most paint is deposited. Just some stuff to think about. I'm sure you'll get it. Hope it's easy.

Maybe add a split ring lock washer along with the nut.

* Last updated by: Rook on 6/30/2015 @ 8:32 PM *

Here's the thread thread.

http://zx14ninjaforum.com/messages.cfm?threadid=039B02B6-C112-D7FB-8A20C8528B3AF3C8

Rook, just like you said the hole goes str8 though and what I did was buy a longer bolt and added the nut with some lock tight and it's all set.

Bigg thanks to you for all you time & help!

Great to hear that! The engine mount that can be easily salvaged if stripped. Just keep an eye on it of course. I'm sure it will be fine though.