Hands up those who've heard of a Keensert

[Bushbasher]

This is a bit of a story and a bit of a rant but also a bit of a show and tell that some may be interested in...........read on,


I've just had a most frustrating day. What started off as a quick oil and filter change turned to chit when on removing the sump plug from the missus' wagon a 6mm length of helicoil came out with it, plus the alloy it was threaded into, leaving me with a 13.5mm hole in my sump with a bit of thread about 25mm inside that turned out to be the rethreaded helicoil size. Some numbnutz has stripped the sump bolt in the past and bodgied a bit of helicoil into the hole but instead of doing the job properly they've only put in a 6mm piece of coil and I'd say that wasn't in straight either otherwise it wouldn't have stripped itself back out considering i only ever spin the sump plug in with my fingers and nip it up till it's a firm but not tight fit. Since this engine has been in I've done roughly 10 oil changes and never noticed anything untoward yet this time it strips out on undoing it. ...anyway, now I'm in a spot, I don't have a bolt that'll match the helicoil thread and I'm 60km from any real shop where I can hunt up parts anyway so right now I've got a longer bolt siliconed into the sump with a shirtload of thread tape around it to grip what's left of the helicoil thread till I can fix it properly next week. It appears to be holding and hasn't weeped even after I got the oil warm so fingers crossed it'll hold till my bits turn up.
Now to the fix! I don't like helicoils much, never have, so have decided to fit a Keensert that I know will never let go but do you think I could find anyone in this state who even knew what one was let alone get me one. I spent 2 over hours online and on the phone trying to track down a supplier or retailer in SA who would sell me one. Every single place I called, including every mechanic in a 100km radius, and every auto store and industrial and engineering supplier from here to Adelaide had no clue what I was talking about. I ended up having to ring a specialist aviation equipment supplier in Victoria before I found someone who knew what they are. I can't believe nobody has ever heard of them, especially long standing mechanical workshops. I used to use these things 20 odd years ago to stop from blowing spark plugs and head studs out of my dirt bikes after I upped the compression so they're not a new thing.
How many here under 40 have seen them before and know what they are? For those that don't know what they are , here they are - If you want to make absolutely sure that thread won't EVER let go again, forget helicoils, these are what you want.





Ahhh, i feel better now .


Cheers
Bushbasher