Forum

[Brazilla]

Hi again fellas. I tracked down my compression issues to my spark plug not fitting right. It has never seated in fully since I got the bike and I guess it's just got worse and I put the miles in. With a listening tube I could hear air escaping from around it when I pushed the kickstart. So, I have the head off, have confirmed the valves are not the issue and have the kit from our hosts (the more expensive one) to put a repair in. I've talked through the procedure with several people and reckon I know what I'm doing. Going to try find a bit of scrap metal to practice on first too! However, a couple of things I just wanted to run past everyone on here: the instructions make no mention of loctite on the insert threads and most advice I've read online says it can make the insert come loose later, correct? The other thing was my engineer neighbour suggested I recut the thread from underneath as it was less damaged there and that would allow the guide to go in accuracy. Would this result in the spark plug screwing in counter clockwise when I finish, would that matter? A little apprehensive about it but it seems like a simple job if I take my time. Thanks guys!

[Gwilly]

If a nut has a right hand thread cut through it to fit on a right hand threaded bolt, does the nut go on either way round? Or can you only start it from one side only?? Think about it..
If your using some kind of Helicoil insert then follow the manufacturers instructions to the letter.. You won't go far wrong..

[Nettshubby]

About the most important thing is to make sure the thread is EXACTLY square to the seating face, or you will never seal it properly, or tighten it properly! I don't know how the kit works but hope there is some kind of guide to ensure this?

[Nettshubby]

Considering your apparent lack of engineering and mechanical understanding, I would strongly suggest taking the head and kit to an engineering company and let them do it. It shouldn't cost much. Cheaper than a new head anyway!

[Brazilla]

Ouch dude, everyone has to start somewhere. Still, thanks for your concern though. I make no bones about being a total novice but I'm keen to have a go at anything, the engineering experience is part of the reason the bullet appealed! I'm enjoying it thus far! I've got the Recoil in well so feeling quite pleased with myself! That might come back to haunt me next week when the spark plug shoots out and embeds itself in my leg (sorry if that's not mechanically possible) I'm glad I took the head off as the swarf went everywhere! Thanks again for the help chaps and sorry for some monumentally dumb questions

[PeteF]

Good for you ; you first thread repaired. Now, don't tighten that plug too much, they just need nipping up. If it leaks at all it needs a new sealing washer, not more torque.
As Gwilly says, a right hand thread is a right hand thread whichever way up it is but the direction you turn it changes. If you undo your plug from the top you turn it anticlockwise. If you could undo it from inside the head it would be clockwise. It catches people out when working "upside down" until you get some experience.

[Brazilla]

Thanks Pete, just went normal way, thought I'd play it safe in some form at least! I'll pat myself fully on the back when Roy is running again!

[Nettshubby]

Sorry Braz, didn't mean to upset you, i have just retired from a life in engineering, and I keep cocking things up! The drain plug thread on a new mini I had was hanging on by what remained of a thread and let go when I removed it to do an oil change.
I set to to put a bigger tread in it and got it all out of square, luckily noticing that before filling it! Had to buy a new sump!
I have no idea what the re thread kit is like and if it didn't have a guide for the drill/ tap, it would be all too easy to get it even slightly out of square, hence suggestion to have an engineer do it on proper tackle. (Like I should ha e done!)
Like you say, we all have to start somewhere, but we live and cock up, as they say!
(Would you believe I just drilled through from underneath a seat I was adapting to my Bullet, right through the cover! THEN made up a sleeve for the drill to stop it going too far on the other holes.)
S&&t!

[Brazilla]

Na dude don't worry. I do have a very apparent lack of mechanical and engineering understanding haha, my comment was intended light heartedly, thanks for your advice! I gambled on making the problem much worse and seem to have been lucky this time, I'd recommend the kit for anyone in a similar situation, it was the Recoil brand and was pricey at about seventy quid but it was satisfying that it worked out. I took Roy out for a short run this morning, it was hard to tune the carb properly as he wouldn't run without choke, he ran great on choke up around some local moors, after a while I got the choke in on second gear and there seemed to be an issue in the first eighth of the throttle. My forum reading experience tells me I my have a pilot jet issue? Am I in the ballpark anyone?

[Brazilla]

Sounds like you had a mini nightmare there nettshubby, hope you got there in the end!