How to fix hinge pin threads in bell housing
 

I found what I thought was a bad bushing and hinge pin on my SB Bravo 1 and thought replacements would fix the problem. Wrong. Female threads are striped in the bell housing and the pin cannot be tightened. Anyone ever tried to repair one of these? Possible fixes in my mind include, ss heli coil, drill and tap for threaded insert, and maybe ever some quick metal. Quickmetal seem like a half assed way to go and I'm not sure it could handle the stress.

Any thoughts would be appreciated,

BT

I had a machine shop fix mine two years ago and so far everthing is fine.

B.T., I don't know anything about it. I just wanted to say Hi. How you doing?

Kchotboat.... do you know what they did?

Crazyhorse... Hi, I am fine how are you? Could you loan me some money?

BT ;)

I had this problem on the drivers side,got a Heli coil, 5/8-18 with a drill size 41/64 or .6406.I think it was about 60 bucks, but considering the alternatives it was the easiest and cheapest.I was able to do this repair while the bell housing was still on the boat. Been about 2 years now and still holding up fine.

27 Fountain... Did you do anything special to hold the housing while drilling, or did it did the bit square up in the hole ok? I was worried about the hole getting crooked causing the hinge pin to bind in the ginbal ring bushing.

BT

Just be carefull, go slow, use oil. It should be ok. The tapping strait is going to be the hard part. When you put in the heli coil use red lock tight, and let that dry then use Grease on the bolt. If you just run them in dry you will get I think it is called galvanic corrosion from all the dis-similiar metals in there. It will actually be stronger then stock.

Jon

Adiofn... the manual says use semi permanent loctite on the hinge pin threads. Do you think grease will work better than that?

BT

bluethunder,
I think Audiofn was thinking that if you used the red on the bolt, you may end up removing the helicoil if you ever removed the pin again. I would use red on the helicoil and then use the blue on the pin threads.
I have called Loctite for info and they were very helpful. You cold call them and see about compatibility and use. Sounds like a good way to go to me.
I found a drill jig at Sears that you mount your drill in and gives you a surface to drill right angle. The base is about 3" or 4" across so it might be too big to use on that gimble bellhousing. Cant hurt to take a look at it. But the tap is the one you need to go in straight with.. Good luck.

Dick

That makes sense to me Mr Gadget. If I can find this jig and make it work, I won't have a problem tapping straight. I tap the lazy mans way with a drill, so the jig would give me a two for one benefit. ! :p Thanks for the tips.

BT