Sourcefor heli-coil tools made out of something other than plastic?

[PTSchram]

Yes, I broke the POS plastic insertion tool that came with the heli-coils. (I also broke a heli-coil tap, but that's a story for another day)

I seem to remember that the tools used to be made of steel rather than plastic. Are they still available, or am I hallucinating?

Sadly, the easiest part of today's job was drilling the hole in the cylinder head for the heli-coil...

[BumpyDodge]

Could you just take a long bolt and copy the bottom notch that the plastic insertion tool has with a file?

Weld a little T handle on it and you'd be set.

[PTSchram]

Already did that, it didn't work very well.

[Old Scout]

Stop buying heli-coils! When I worked in a Porsche shop we only used:

http://www.timesert.com/

[BumpyDodge]

I remember using a metal insertion tool once with one of the Heli-Coil knock off brands.

It was black oxide finish made from one piece of rod with a red rubber dipped handle - the top was bent/shaped like a 7.

Can't remember which auto parts store I got it, was a few years ago. I think AutoZone carries them. They are a copycat brand, but look identical to a Heli-Coil except for the much nicer insertion tool.

P.S. looked on Google and found it - It's "Recoil" brand. http://www.newmantools.com/recoilstit.htm
It says "not recommended for use with other brand inserts" but I don't see why it wouldn't work. The powered insertion tool is listed as compatible with all brands if you happen to win the lottery tomorrow.

Edit: X2 on Time-serts they are a lot nicer, but I wasn't gonna say anything.

[ironpig70]

got my set at either car quest or napa and all metal

[Scott@Rockstomper]

They're available from http://www.travers.com as well. Recoil brand, I believe. Metal handle, red dip, as described above. Got a couple of 'em around here somewhere.

[DavidVanVorous]

Stop buying heli-coils! When I worked in a Porsche shop we only used:

http://www.timesert.com/

I've used them but these are a tad more positive lock if you can afford the room required (#8 requires a 1/4-28 tapped hole IIRC)

http://www.keensert.com/

D.

[1jdg]

napa.

[1jdg]

napa.

[kyle_22r]

i bought a kit of the recoil(i think) inserts with the steel tool. first one i installed in my cylinder head, the fucking tang on the tool busted off :mad:

the other 6 were a huge pain in the ass, most didn't get more than 4 or 5 threads deep. piece of junk.

[JeepinDoug]

I remember using a metal insertion tool once with one of the Heli-Coil knock off brands.

It was black oxide finish made from one piece of rod with a red rubber dipped handle - the top was bent/shaped like a 7.

Can't remember which auto parts store I got it, was a few years ago. I think AutoZone carries them. They are a copycat brand, but look identical to a Heli-Coil except for the much nicer insertion tool.

P.S. looked on Google and found it - It's "Recoil" brand. http://www.newmantools.com/recoilstit.htm
It says "not recommended for use with other brand inserts" but I don't see why it wouldn't work. The powered insertion tool is listed as compatible with all brands if you happen to win the lottery tomorrow.


Edit: X2 on Time-serts they are a lot nicer, but I wasn't gonna say anything.

I've used these also in a production enviroment. The driven leg of the heli-coil has a small notch in it, at a certain torque the leg breaks off.
I've also modified allen screws for the same job and brazed an allen key in the socket. Just a little grinder work to modify a screw.

[d.d.machine]

We used a butt load of the heli`s in plactic injection molds years ago, all we did was weld a bolt onto the end of a screw driver and file the end to fit.
you just have to file the right spot on the end is all.