Help with stripped screw

vaccam · 03-09-2008, 05:56 PM

I managed to strip out the screw that mounts the passenger seat while installing my backrest from Grasshopper. The backrest plate did not sit flat against the passenger seat plate. I tried tightening it as much as I dared, but when I took it for a short ride, I could tell that it was not tight enough, so I tightened it a bit more and stripped it.

Any ideas how to fix this. I was able to get the screw out and back in well enough to secure the passenger seat. I have tapped out screws before and used the helical inserts, but I do not know if there is enough material there to do that and I am not sure it would be strong enough.

I had intended to use the backrest while we are in North Caroline this coming weekend.

Help!

Michael

**ringadingh** · 03-09-2008, 06:24 PM

The easiest solution would be to tap it to the next larger size , and replace the bolt.

tomk · 03-09-2008, 06:33 PM

Michael,

Did you strip the screw or the threaded nut? Maybe both? Try chasing the female part with a tap and use a new screw before you drill and tap to the next size.

Tom

vaccam · 03-09-2008, 06:40 PM

I'm pretty sure I stripped both. I tried inserting one of the seat screws which is the same one and it's threads got stripped. If I just re-tap at the same size will it be weaker than the original?

tomk · 03-09-2008, 06:47 PM

Yes it will, but the threads will be able to receive a new screw and may hold. When you chase a thread with a tap, you cut the same path that was originally there. Some of the thread material was moved when you stripped the thread. The tap will cut that away and leave only the material that is in the original thread path. As long as the original screw did not just spin around after you stripped it.

Other than that, you can find out what the next size larger screw is and then get a drill and tap to make it that size.

grasshopper · 03-09-2008, 07:14 PM

Can you put a nut on the inside of the fender! I am sorry to hear you had a problem I haven't heard of any other problems yet!

vaccam · 03-09-2008, 07:48 PM

Grasshopper,

I had a hard time to get the plate to lie flat against the seat plate. I guess I should have tried harder. I was hoping the screw would be able to pull the plate flat, but it did not.

I thought about putting a bolt through the inside of the fender, but I do not want it to interfere with the tire and I am not sure I can get my hand in there. I will try that as a last resort.

I am pretty sure it was my fault, not the backrest, grasshopper. Should I have had any trouble getting the plate to lie flat? Do you have to push hard on it?

tom, I think I will try tapping the original size first. If I do, will I still
have enough material to tap the next size larger?

Thanks all,

Michale

**Top Cat** · 03-09-2008, 07:59 PM

If you tap the original size first and it doesn't hold, yes you should have enough material left to tap the next bigger size.
There is probably a nut welded on the underside of the fender and that is what you are screwing the bolt into. Thats the way mine is. 2007.
If the plate will not lay flat bend it in a vise or with vise grips till it is flat. Don't try to force it with the bolt ;)
Also, DON'T use a LONGER bolt as it may rub your tire when your shocks compress.

tomk · 03-10-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Grasshopper,

I had a hard time to get the plate to lie flat against the seat plate. I guess I should have tried harder. I was hoping the screw would be able to pull the plate flat, but it did not.

I thought about putting a bolt through the inside of the fender, but I do not want it to interfere with the tire and I am not sure I can get my hand in there. I will try that as a last resort.

I am pretty sure it was my fault, not the backrest, grasshopper. Should I have had any trouble getting the plate to lie flat? Do you have to push hard on it?

tom, I think I will try tapping the original size first. If I do, will I still
have enough material to tap the next size larger?

Thanks all,

Michale

Oh yes. Like TC said, you'll have enough material to go bigger. If you tap the original thread, you're not making it any different than stock, you're just puttting it back where it belongs.

dogdoc · 03-10-2008, 08:43 PM

all good points TC, sounds like a mess for sure.

vaccam · 03-11-2008, 04:01 PM

I picked up a metric tap and die kit and a vice from Harbor Freight this morning. I will be trying to fix it tomorrow morning. Looks like it should be a pretty quick fix. I almost forgot about Harbor Freight again. It is sure nice that they are open at 8 AM.

I want to try to keep to the original screw size so that I do not have to drill out both brackets.

Thanks for all the advice.

Michael

vaccam · 03-12-2008, 08:01 AM

I taped out the screw to the original size this morning and got my backrest installed. The tapping of the screw was less than a five minute job. It took longer to get the tools out.

Thanks all for the advice.

Michael

tomk · 03-12-2008, 08:59 PM

Cool!

stambukj · 03-14-2008, 12:24 AM

Tom your quite the engineer! Maybe you could help Nico and BD with their stripped holes?

tomk · 03-14-2008, 07:36 PM

Not that kinda engineer, JOHN.

03-09-2008, 05:56 PM	#1
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Help with stripped screw I managed to strip out the screw that mounts the passenger seat while installing my backrest from Grasshopper. The backrest plate did not sit flat against the passenger seat plate. I tried tightening it as much as I dared, but when I took it for a short ride, I could tell that it was not tight enough, so I tightened it a bit more and stripped it. Any ideas how to fix this. I was able to get the screw out and back in well enough to secure the passenger seat. I have tapped out screws before and used the helical inserts, but I do not know if there is enough material there to do that and I am not sure it would be strong enough. I had intended to use the backrest while we are in North Caroline this coming weekend. Help! Michael Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-09-2008, 06:24 PM	#2
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Help with stripped screw The easiest solution would be to tap it to the next larger size , and replace the bolt. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

03-09-2008, 06:33 PM	#3
tomk Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 65	Help with stripped screw Michael, Did you strip the screw or the threaded nut? Maybe both? Try chasing the female part with a tap and use a new screw before you drill and tap to the next size. Tom
	0

03-09-2008, 06:40 PM	#4
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Help with stripped screw I'm pretty sure I stripped both. I tried inserting one of the seat screws which is the same one and it's threads got stripped. If I just re-tap at the same size will it be weaker than the original?
	0

03-09-2008, 06:47 PM	#5
tomk Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 65	Help with stripped screw Yes it will, but the threads will be able to receive a new screw and may hold. When you chase a thread with a tap, you cut the same path that was originally there. Some of the thread material was moved when you stripped the thread. The tap will cut that away and leave only the material that is in the original thread path. As long as the original screw did not just spin around after you stripped it. Other than that, you can find out what the next size larger screw is and then get a drill and tap to make it that size. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

03-09-2008, 07:14 PM	#6
grasshopper Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 144	Help with stripped screw Can you put a nut on the inside of the fender! I am sorry to hear you had a problem I haven't heard of any other problems yet!
	0

03-09-2008, 07:48 PM	#7
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Help with stripped screw Grasshopper, I had a hard time to get the plate to lie flat against the seat plate. I guess I should have tried harder. I was hoping the screw would be able to pull the plate flat, but it did not. I thought about putting a bolt through the inside of the fender, but I do not want it to interfere with the tire and I am not sure I can get my hand in there. I will try that as a last resort. I am pretty sure it was my fault, not the backrest, grasshopper. Should I have had any trouble getting the plate to lie flat? Do you have to push hard on it? tom, I think I will try tapping the original size first. If I do, will I still have enough material to tap the next size larger? Thanks all, Michale
	0

03-09-2008, 07:59 PM	#8
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Help with stripped screw If you tap the original size first and it doesn't hold, yes you should have enough material left to tap the next bigger size. There is probably a nut welded on the underside of the fender and that is what you are screwing the bolt into. Thats the way mine is. 2007. If the plate will not lay flat bend it in a vise or with vise grips till it is flat. Don't try to force it with the bolt ;) Also, DON'T use a LONGER bolt as it may rub your tire when your shocks compress. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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03-10-2008, 08:43 PM	#10
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Help with stripped screw all good points TC, sounds like a mess for sure.
	0

03-11-2008, 04:01 PM	#11
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Help with stripped screw I picked up a metric tap and die kit and a vice from Harbor Freight this morning. I will be trying to fix it tomorrow morning. Looks like it should be a pretty quick fix. I almost forgot about Harbor Freight again. It is sure nice that they are open at 8 AM. I want to try to keep to the original screw size so that I do not have to drill out both brackets. Thanks for all the advice. Michael
	0

03-12-2008, 08:01 AM	#12
vaccam Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Gaithersburg, MD Posts: 218	Help with stripped screw I taped out the screw to the original size this morning and got my backrest installed. The tapping of the screw was less than a five minute job. It took longer to get the tools out. Thanks all for the advice. Michael
	0

03-12-2008, 08:59 PM	#13
tomk Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 65	Help with stripped screw Cool!
	0

03-14-2008, 12:24 AM	#14
stambukj Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, Ca. Posts: 340	Help with stripped screw Tom your quite the engineer! Maybe you could help Nico and BD with their stripped holes?
	0

03-14-2008, 07:36 PM	#15
tomk Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Southern California Posts: 65	Help with stripped screw Not that kinda engineer, JOHN.
	0

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