Are helicoil taps proprietary?

[CyFi6]

Well I am doing some work on my head off the car, and a few of the studs stripped out, so i wanted to Helicoil all of them. What I'm wondering is, are the taps for Helicoils proprietary? I have a very large tap and die set and I would hate to buy a full Helicoil kit if I already have the proper tap. Is there a universal tap size for the m10x1.25 exhaust stud Helicoils? Thanks!

 

[IwantMKIII]

I would message GaboonViper85. He's been working in machine shops for quite a while now and may have a good idea or at least know who to ask

 

[suprarx7nut]

I can speak from some very relavent first hand experience here:

Helicoil taps are NOT LIKE ANY NORMAL TAP. I used the wrong type and didn't realize until it was too late. They are completely different. Helicoil taps can ONLY be used for helicoiling and only helicoiling taps will allow the coils or "threads" to work.

You need to buy a "Helicoil kit". They can be bought via Driftmotion or some hardware stores, possibly an auto parts store. Personally, I would buy the kit from Driftmotion. They give you everything you need, just double check the parts to make sure they all seem to line up.

Again, USE ONLY SPECIFIC HELICOIL TAPS. There is NO tap other than a HELICOIL tap that can work. Buy them together in a kit that will contain the coils, tap, coil inserter and instructions.

 

[IJ.]

Genuine Helicoil taps are as Nut said ^

 

[gotsomegetsome]

Well I am doing some work on my head off the car, and a few of the studs stripped out, so i wanted to Helicoil all of them. What I'm wondering is, are the taps for Helicoils proprietary? I have a very large tap and die set and I would hate to buy a full Helicoil kit if I already have the proper tap. Is there a universal tap size for the m10x1.25 exhaust stud Helicoils? Thanks!

proprietary? you mean necessary? proprietary is not the correct word.

and whatever the veterans say is good and true for this post's sake

 

[IJ.]

proprietary in this case meaning it's a Helicoil designed tape form and nothing else will work.

This is why you can't "nest" Helicoils to say make a m12 hole into an m6 one as the outside of the coil isn't a standard form.

Some of the other brands you can do this as they use a standard tap and form.

 

[CyFi6]

Thank you everyone for the great information!

 

[dmon]

the kit from driftmotion is pretty good. i ordered it and tried it. make sure u practice first before you actually start drilling the holes.

 

[NoKittenMKIII]

I hate helicoils. I'm partial to re-tapping to a bigger hole, or you can have a good welder fill it in and re-drill and re-tap. Advise, the strength of the work depends on the weld on the second method. May hold better than a helicoil but not as easy. As to going bigger, you probably can't justify the extra work, and the thinning of the block walls against simple stripped threads. But slightly bigger bolts of high strength could give you less headaches with the headgasket.

Helicoils would be easiest.

<- Machinist, United States Army.

 

[Cycoclown]

u can order the set for like 50$ or something from driftmotion... i didnt take the head out tho.... so it will probobly be alot easier

 

[Poodles]

*cough*time-sert*cough*

I have the helicoils from driftmotion in my head, but if I could do it all over again...time-sert (repaired stripped spark plug holes with them and the way they work is far superior).


This is NOT knocking driftmotion in any way. The time-sert kits are far more expensive, and the helicoils work fine for most people.

 

[WhtMa71]

I would second time-serts.. I have them holding a few head studs in on my Honda engine.

 

[CyFi6]

Ive done some research with timeserts and i just don't think i want to invest in all the tools for timeserts when i wont be using them primarily for most things. A helicoil tool kit is something that can benefit me for years to come. I have used helicoils for exhaust studs before and i have had no troubles whatsoever, so until i have a bad experience with helicoils i will probably just stick with them, especially for something as simple as exhaust studs.

 

[montego6500]

i have helicoils in 3 or 4 holes on my block. i got them from bumper to bumper. the kit was like 74 bucks. and they worked great just make sure u drill straight. i had one that wasnt perfect and it made it tough to get the head on.

 

[4U2QUIK]

BTW helicoil taps are known as STI taps in the manufacturing industry. They're kinda sorta propriatary. Being that the STI's are a ansi and iso standard sizes, and several tool manufacturers make the taps. Not just helicoil. A matter of fact they're are a few different companies that make the inserts also.
the also come in roll tap form.