I just rounded up the tools and inserts for 5/8 x 18 if you would like to borrow the tools, no charge for the inserts.
They are a one piece insert that stakes in place and won't pull out like helicoils which are basically just a stainless steel spring with a thread profile.

So the trim senders will fit on top of the HP pins? If so I want to do the conversion on my new transom assembly.

No you can't run the senders with hp pins

Also the gimble ring on an hp transom assembly is stronger, so just adding the hp pins doesn't make it an hp transom.

I did a Helicoil and has been holding up just fine.

A helicoil most likely will last as long as the boat, I typically work on much larger machines subject to considerably more severe operating conditions and have seen helicoils fail too many times so have gotten completely away from them and gone with the staked in one piece inserts. They are more expensive but have never seen one fail yet. Compared to the labor and down time the price of the inserts is insignificant.

Weird.


http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-th...nserts/=qkiau1

I had pictured in my mind initially that they screwed into the bell housing, but I now understand they attach to the gimble ring. Got any pics of the HP pins installed. I search around but couldn't find any.

I did find this: Ref post# 11

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/d...housing-2.html

Not sure if they are talking abt the same kind of HP pins or not.

The helicoil is looking better and better.

Looks like $3.45 to me for a .938 length

That price is for one insert but no tools

http://www.autotoolworld.com/Helicoi..._p_142364.html

this is the kit you need, it doesn't include the 41/64 drill bit which may be hard to find but you can use a 5/8 bit with aluminum, it is only 1/64 smaller and the tap will easily cut that difference and guaranty full thread engagement. Like the others have said make sure to use red loctite 271 on the insert . Make sure that the loctite sets up (it's anaerobic so only fully sets up where there is no oxygen) before applying anti seize to the threads on the pin.