stripped bolt on VORTECH ??

[huffentuff95]

I knew it was gonna happen sooner or later. While changing out the plate on my SQ , I was getting ready to tightning the three bolts on the adjustment plate. As I had the belt at the right tension I proceeded to tightning the bolts. As I got to the top pivot "BOLT" it happened. I am sure someone knows the feeling of the bolt that should stop but doesn't Lets cut to the chase Has anyone ever put a heilcoil in the housing of a vortech? Can someone tell me what size bolt and thread is standard. If you know what heilcoil I can use please tell me, it would be appreciated. Yea! I should have known better but I believe it was all most stripped the last time I took off the plate. OH PS: the mounting plate fit great paul

 

[thePUNISHER]

glad the plat works for you. just bring the bolt the the local auto parts store and theyll give you a helicoil to work with it. just be sure that when you drill out the stripped hole on the blower that you dont go too deep. its easy for drill bits to blast thru the aluminum. good luck.

 

[sstock]

Dennis, I feel for you and yes I know the feeling as well, A big pit in the gut!!!!

 

[psmith]

This is an old thread but I just did this to my Vortech The tensioner bolts are so short and the casting is so soft and it was so hot today, that I tightened up the top bolt a little too much. Anyway, I'm not going to use a helicoil but a thread insert. It's the same as a helicoil but its all one piece instead of wound wire. Might be stronger. We used to do this with Porsches all the time since many times mechanics would overtighten stuff that threads into aluminum.

 

[Copperhead]

This must be a piss-poor design on Vortech's part or either I put too much leverage on mine as well !! The last time I put my belt on, I could feel the top bolt not snugging down properly like it should! It's "almost" stripped out ! ;m

Needless to say,..............I went ahead and picked up a Heli-coil kit for when it goes completely south!

 

[LightningWX]

Mine was working it's way to stripped also. I was weary of tightening the bolts too much, but the tensioner bracket slips if you don't make them real snug. They probly should be heli-coiled to begin with, cause it didn't take alot for "oh **** that was too much" to happen.

 

[Icepick]

Yep,

Mines hanging by a few threads as well....

 

[huffentuff95]

I knew this would be an issue sooner or later to some. The 12mm heil coil has a starter tap and bottomed out before making threads all the way down;m I screwed in the coil and had to cut the excess off. I am holding on by 3-4 threads and all is good. if you can find a tap that isn't a starter you can screw the coil all the way in. I am having no problems but I am careful when adjusting. The 8 rib seems to need less adjustment:tug: good luck all

 

[Thundrn_Lightning]

Mine's stripped, too. I've got another complete gearcase that I may use. Dumb question, but has anyone thought of making up a special stud to go in the place of the bolt?

Later,

 

[LW93Rcode]

Thats a good idea, but I don't think it'll work with the 3/4" headed bolt. Its already a thin head bolt to clear the belt to begin with. Would work good for the other two bolts though.

 

[FMOS Racing]

Guys, just for the sake of noting it, that bolt doesn't do anything to keep the plate from moving, it's just a pivot. The lower two bolts have to be tight but the top one just has to be snug. It really doesn't take a lot of torque on any of the bolts to keep that plate from moving.

I don't know if they make bottoming taps in Helicoil sizes. I'm not CERTAIN of this, but I think they're actually off-sized and that's why you have to use their supplied taps. You could just drill it out to the next larger size, tap it with a bottoming tap, and get a correct-sized bolt...

 

[run351]

Anyone have a photo of this? I have the same plate (Pauls thick plate) though I have not installed a blower yet.
I want to have some knowledge of what exactly your referring too and the Fix before I am faced with it also.
thanks John

 

[thePUNISHER]

john they are talking about the tensioner plate. it bolts to the blower itslef however the threads are shallow. if you overtorque them they strip.