Nut in plastic tank striped. Repair?

Arkmx
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Arkmx
Edited Date/Time 2/13/2012 12:00am
Anyone have any luck getting a Shroud Bolt loose from the nut in the tank when the plastic does not hold the nut in place? Went to take off the shrouds on the YZ 125 and the nut is spinning in the tank. Errrr! Used bike fun..... Have not had this happen to any of our bikes before, so I have not had to deal with this until now.

Just wondering if anyone has a trick to hold the nut so the bolt can be removed.

Ides... Remove the other two bolts, bend the Shroud back and try to wedge the nut to keep it from spinning?

If the bolt is removed I was thinking on using an epoxy to secure the nut back in the tank.

Option 2, get a used tank off EBay.....

Thanks in advance!

Jim.
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loftyair
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loftyair 1/18/2012 7:40am
1/18/2012 7:40am
Those 2 options you mentioned is exactly the way I go about it, good luck!
newmann
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newmann 1/18/2012 7:44am
1/18/2012 7:44am
Spin it on out and then you can secure it in a vice to remove the screw. Clean the threads and put a new screw in it with some anti seize. Use a dremel or something to clean the hole out in the plastic and taper the hole some where your adhesive will extend out under the surface when you put it back in. See if you can find some of this.




http://www.amazon.com/Bond-Repair-Small-Bonding-Adhesive/dp/B003YI421I

Stuff is amazing.....and instant!
Arkmx
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Arkmx 1/18/2012 10:16am
1/18/2012 10:16am
Thanks guys. I will get after it this weekend!
TerryK
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TerryK 1/18/2012 4:48pm
1/18/2012 4:48pm
Always ALWAYS use an anti seize compound on bolts threading into plastic inserts.

The Shop

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lumpy790
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lumpy790 2/1/2012 2:08pm
2/1/2012 2:08pm
have used a soldering iron and some old fender plastic to melt/bond it back in place.
Arkmx
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Arkmx 2/3/2012 10:21am
2/3/2012 10:21am Edited Date/Time 2/3/2012 10:21am
.

Thanks for the ideas guys!

Ok, after having to pull the shroud off and then cutting away (using a small box cutter) some of the plastic around the nut-insert, I was able to get a screwdriver alongside of the nut. This let me hold the nut while I broke the bolt loose from the nut. After that I used some "Quick Steel" to fill-in around one side of the nut (pushed it into the gap around the nut) kind of like troweling mortar, working it into the gap. Smoothed it down and flush with the tank. Seems to be working fine so far!

Why did I use the Quick Steel, well sometime during the previous owners Top End work, someone had Broken the Power Valve Actuator arm (push rod). Looks like it happened when the R-front cylinder nut was loosened. To fix the broken arm I used the Quick Steel to make a splint, so Zack could ride the next day. Also cheaper than a new on for now...

The joys of "used bike" ownership!

That's it....

JG

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captmoto
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captmoto 2/13/2012 12:00am
2/13/2012 12:00am
After I read these posts I went out and fixed my tank. I spun it out cleaned the hole and used JB weld. What I also found was the inserts are rough. I chased all the inserts and was surprised how galled the threads are. If you deform the little washers the bolts can get into the galled threads that act like a lock nut. I had no corrosion on mine it was just jammed into the galled threads.
I also dodged a bullet by getting the chain adjusters unstuck. I lost some threads but the lugs that go into the swing arm are probably an inch deep, threaded all the way.

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