Crankshaft Bolt

[JAllenWAG]

The end threads on my crankshaft are stripped and the harmonic balancer bolt will not tighten. Has anybody ever successfully retapped the threads on the crank? Any suggestions on how to fix it?

[Rogue]

yes I have and no its not fun easier done with engine out but...they do make right angle drills...you will prolly need to helicoil it...

[ January 16, 2003, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: RogueStar ]

[mdill]

Never had to try it, but don't see any reason that it could not be
drilled and taped and have a thread insert inslalled. The hard part
would be to make sure the drill/tap was streight.

Mike D.

[godzilla]

How bad are they stripped? Is the crank end bad or is the bolt stipped? If you have to helicoil, use a loctite or you may be purchasing more than just a helicoil kit.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

I do not think Heli coils are available for that fine thread crank bolt are they? When you say it won't tighten what do you mean, is this with the bolt all the way in or is it that it wont't start? if it is damaged only at the start of the threads in the crank, like what happens when you try to pull the balancer on with a wrong tread bolt or one that is to short, run a tap in it, get new bolt, the corret one. Good luck!!

[jeepguzzi]

Is that bolt a left hand thread???????????

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Originally posted by jeepguzzi:
Is that bolt a left hand thread???????????NO!!!!!!!!!
:D :D

[JAllenWAG]

The bolt is brand new so I know the threads on it are good. The balancer is already on. I can screw the bolt in all the way finger tight. When I put the torque wrench to it it tightens to maybe about 5 ft-lbs and then loosens again. I have taps and dies but have never used a helicoil.

[Crazy_Jeepman]

Are you sure it is the right bolt. I find it almost impossible that all the crank threads are stripped out. awfull lot of torque can be handled by that bolt

[porchpiggy]

Double check that bolt, sounds more like the wrong size bolt.

[Mikel2]

I would have to agree with CJ. It would take Arnold Swarzenagger with a five feet crow bar to strip those threads...

[JAllenWAG]

I have 2 bolts....one is the original and one is new. They are the same size. I don't know why they won't work. I've had the balancer off a couple times before and never had any problems.

[Mikel2]

Maybe you can look at the threads with a mirror and a flashlight... Maybe the first couple of threads are in bad shape and don't allow the screw to go in...

[JAllenWAG]

I will try that. The jeep is about 1 1/2 hours away in my parents garage right now so I'll be heading back there to work on it this weekend.