ElectricMotorcycleForum.com
Makes And Models => Zero Motorcycles Forum | 2013+ => Topic started by: nicktulloh on March 22, 2021, 12:02:52 AM
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I wouldn't have thought this possible but I have managed to strip the female threads for my front axle (left lower fork casting) on my 2018 DSR.
Anyone have any ideas?
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Is there still material left? If so, and the thread is just mangled, perhaps you can re-cut the threads.
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If there are no salvageable threads, you can use a Heli coil insert. This should be easy to do since the fender is removed you should be able to turn the lower leg for easier access.
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Wow, I think that is an M20 x 1.5mm pitch thread, that takes some serious torque or abuse to completely strip out. There is a helicoil kit for it, but it costs $500: https://www.fastenal.com/products/details/11133735
I can think of a couple other hack-like ways to fix it, but they are too sketchy to post on a public forum. That joint is pretty critical, I would really recommend it get repaired properly, or replaced.
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Perhaps a new fork tube might cost less than a Helicoil kit?
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https://www.af1racing.com/DS-FORK-41MM-LEFT-ZM22-08061
$450
I would slide the leg out and take it to a good machinist. If they already had the heli coil kit it might be less. Or they may have another solution. Good luck
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$500 is way overpriced, should be closer to $300 for a kit. Most of that cost is in the tool and tap, you could buy a pack of helicoils for under $50 and take it to a machine shop to get it drilled and tapped and they should be able to whip up a tool easily too if they don't already have one (it's just a rod with a slot in the end).
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Is there still material left? If so, and the thread is just mangled, perhaps you can re-cut the threads.
+1. I recently had a non-MC stainless-on-stainless galling incident where I was sure the threads were toast, but after running a tap through them they're holding fine.
Just fwiw, none of the motorcycles I've owned have used fork axle threads.
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The few times that I have had to deal with stripped threads on an engine the shop mechanic always used a product called "Time Sert" (or something very similar). I have suspicion that product is much cheaper than a Helicoil and that is why they use it.