Resurrect your old mower by repairing the spark-plug cylinder thread
By Gavin Norrington,
Technical Manager, Patience & Nicholson
Damaged and pulled threads can be an annoying inconvenience, especially a stripped spark plug thread. They can also be expensive if the equipment you are working on is vital or difficult to replace. But there are now systems with which you can repair even completely destroyed threads quickly and at a reasonable cost, so saving time and money.
Existing undamaged threads can also be significantly strengthened using these types of repair systems. This is especially helpful if you are making anything out of softer materials such as aluminum or brass. Most modern motor vehicles with aluminum sub-frames, engine components, and so on include thread inserts in their manufacture to increase fastening strength. Applications for this type of product are quite extensive. The aim of this article is to show you how to repair a thread in a couple of common situations many sheddies will have come across.
The first repair is one that anybody who services their own motor vehicle or power equipment such as lawnmowers at home would have been likely to have encountered, this stripped spark plug thread. There must be many valuable or otherwise useful pieces of equipment out there in shed land that could be put back into serviceable condition with this simple repair.
The second repair is a Keysert insert repair. This repair is used where the entire thread and surrounding parent material has failed. This repair is a little more complex but with care, it is still possible to carry out this type of repair with basic equipment found in the typical shed.
Spark plug repair
For this repair, we have chosen the classic old lawn mower with a damaged spark plug thread. Ideally, the engine would be stripped down to the cylinder barrel. But this repair can be successfully completed without doing this.
Most engineering merchants will stock or will be able to supply a spark plug repair kit of the correct size (either 10mm or 14mm) with everything included to complete the repair.
First of all, mount the mower on a bench in a convenient position, ideally in a vice with the spark plug hole pointing down vertically. This is to help prevent swarf from falling into the cylinder barrel. If this isn’t convenient, a good trick is to use grease on the end of the tap to collect all the swarf.
Next with the tap provided in the kit (you will need a tap wrench) carefully start cutting the new thread in your spark plug hole. Ensure the piston is at the bottom of its stroke. You will notice this tap has two different-sized threads on it. The first will match the original thread size in your spark-plug hole. The second is the thread for your insert to go into.
With the provided thread-insert tool, wind in the insert until it is flush with the top of the spark-plug hole. You may notice that when the insert was being wound in that its diameter reduced. This reduction in diameter creates a radial force that locks the insert in so that it cannot unwind once it is in place.
With a pair of long-nose pliers, break off tang or small metal lug used for purchase while you drive the insert in. Take care not to drop the tang into the cylinder. Carefully clean off any remaining swarf and grease.
You are now ready to refit your spark pug and fire up your resurrected lawn mower! Footnote: the brand of repair kit that has been used here uses stainless steel inserts, so this not only repairs the thread but strengthens it by up to 60 percent.
Keysert repair
Fix an engine block head-stud hole
For the Keysert repair, we have again selected a common application which is an engine block with a torn-out head-stud hole.
This is a perfect type of repair for a Keysert. Keysert inserts come in many materials and different sizes for both internal and external diameters. Your local engineering merchant will know where to procure them.
Keyserts come in small quantity packs and do not include correct taps and drills. You will have to buy these as extras.
For this repair, you will need to have your engine fully stripped down.
Lifting equipment, a sturdy bench, and a drill press are probably the order of the day for this operation.
Carefully drill out the hole to the required size and tap in the same way as the above.
Screw in the Keysert until it is flush with the top of the hole. You will notice four square-shaped pins protruding from the top of the installed Keysert. These are locking pins.
With a ball pein hammer, carefully hammer these down until they are flush with the top of the hole.
You can now drill and tap the Keysert to the correct size for your stud and carry out any machining required. These are just two of the many repairs that can be carried out with these types of repair systems. Please refer to your local engineering merchant for further details on what is available.
