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So doing a 50hr service yesterday I managed to strip one of the two inserts that the bearing mount end fastens to. It takes a smallish socket cap bolt (3mm allen key perhaps) and there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of material to work with. Torque value for the bolt is 5.6nM
At the moment I have popped it together with Loctite 271 but I'm not confident that will do the trick. Two part epoxy has been suggested (Araldite or similar) and I saw Halfords have an evo-stick metal epoxy stick. Will either of these do the job? I suspect its too small to consider a heli-coil but I have no experience with these.
I am not adverse to replacing the shock stanchion as its got a scratch on it but its airtight and I think replacement would also require a full service.
Edit, 6.2nM it seems..
Anyone? I have emailed Ben at Kinetics as I know he's a clued up guy but other input is welcome. I have also got quotes for replacements but I don't like binning this prematurely!
This?
A new damper body is £56 RRP, would require a full service to fit, they appear to be buy to order from ZyroFisher, you would need to know what length you need.
Yup. Its an option but most likely £150+ for the work and parts.. If it can be fixed otherwise and cheaper without being a worry that would be ace.
Its a 230x65
Not sure how much material there is to play with, but drill it out and helicoil it.
What is the bolt size? You can then check what size the helicoil or threaded insert OD will be and compare it to the end of the damper body.
I think its M4, I will check though. It has been suggested tapping to M5 (or whatever the next size up is) but again I will need to check how much metal is there- I suspect there isn't a huge amount of excess.
How deep is the hole? Can you get a slightly longer bolt into some good thread, or a bit of stud all the way in then put a nut on it?
You may also need a bottoming tap rather than a taper tap
It has been suggested tapping to M5 (or whatever the next size up is)
A helicoil will be stronger than that. If it's the threads in the end of the fork leg in that picture above there'll be plenty of meat for one.
Deep breath, steady hand, then Helicoil. After that, Dental Insurance...Only joking (hopefully)
No repair it seems- Ben gave it a look over. At the end of the threaded recess is the nitrogen fill so can't go deeper and there's a slight flaring for want of a better term running on the outside.
The screw is m4*8mm so it's a pretty small fixture, certainly be more careful if I replace it with the same!
Id run it with red loctite for a while and see how it goes. The fitting should always be under compression, which is why the screws are small. The screws are to hold it in position, not stop it being yanked off.
Also, and I appreciate this isnt ‘correct’, if the metal is quite soft I’d just try and screw a m5x8mm bolt in and see if it grips.
A 4.2mm self tapper might do the job.
Edit: M5 might be too big and cause a crack to apear.
I think it's lost some of the structural integrity as it is- the flaring probably means a crack is not far behind.
I have red loctite but I don't think it has enough to hold on to.