OEMTOOLS25648 Fix-A-Thread Spark Plug Saver Inserts, Metric, M14 - 1.25, Socket Rethreading Kit Components For Car, Truck, RV, And Aviation Repair, 14mm Thread

Worked great for repairing a damaged spark plug port on my Kohler Command CH22 lawn mower engine. Seems like good quality, insert was easy to tap and install. Going to look into buying extra inserts for future repairs.

I use this to fix the cylinder head on my firefighter friends Stihl chainsaw. I used a drill press to hold the tap straight and I clamped down the cylinder head to the plate of the press to make sure it did not move. I then used a dial indicator to run it around the edge of the spark plug hole to make sure it was true and square. Then tapped it and put the insert from the kit in and it's fixed permanently! Very glad that something like this exists! Great product!

PROS:1. It got the job done.2. It was a cheap kit.3. The threaded inserts are coated steel.4. The tap is high enough quality to cut easily, even when some full-thread removal is needed at the bottom of the hole.5. The head on the tap is 5/8", just like the spark plug (important for deep ports)CONS:1. The pictured item has a long lead-in, more like a plug tap. What I received has very little lead-in, more like a bottoming tap. This makes it more difficult to get the tap started and, more importantly, to keep it steady and straight as the threads get started.2. There aren't very good instructions out there for the best use of this type of tool. I've tried to help with that below.Here's some detailed instructions from an experienced engineer, to help ensure a successful repair:Things you will benefit from also having/buying:1. Micro-attachment kit for your shop vac (basically a reducer, a rubber hose, and a variety of small tips)2. Loctite 638 (you could use high-temp rtv sealant, but this stuff is the ultimate best option)3. Axle grease or a similar heavy grease (this is for catching the chips so they don't go into the engine)4. A sliding T-handle wrench, or a large tap wrench (it's best to do the tapping with two opposed hands for better control and straightness, especially when starting the threads)5. This may not be needed in your case, but I couldn't get the tap started in my engine without first chamfering the hole a tiny bit more. For this I used my Noga NG3100 countersinking tool.6. A 5/8" spark plug socket (this is ideal for your spark plugs, too, in case you didn't already know... it has a rubber insert that snugs over the top of the plug so it doesn't just slip out of the socket).7. A way to retain the tap in the socket is recommended... this could be as simple as a wad of masking tap, some silly puddy, or even some small magnets like I used (I luckily just had the perfect little magnets on-hand for this).8. A long screwdriver and a thin rag for cleaning (Ideally use something that won't shred apart against the threads, like a torn up t-shirt or something... I used a polyester cleanroom wipe that I had on-hand).9. A good flashlight or head lamp.10. Anti-seize compound for the new spark plug (duh?).Instructions:IMPORTANT NOTE: this tap is only good for aluminum heads. Just be sure you aren't trying to tap into a steel block with this tool. It will likely gall up and cause an even bigger problem.ANOTHER NOTE: Plan on the repair taking about 1-2 hours, and then 24 hours for the sealer to cure. Don't skip this cure time. Plan ahead and don't start the engine until 24 hours after completing the repair.1. Inspect and clean the hole and surrounding area. There will likely be aluminum-thread debris here and there.IMPORTANT NOTE: The old threads need to be completely stripped and cleaned away at the top of the hole for this blunt-nose tap to be able to get started. It's okay if there are still a few threads completely intact at the bottom of the hole, because the front of the tap has a good enough edge grind to function as a crude reamer and clear out that extra material. If that is the case, however, be sure to take very small bites when you get down to that section (tap 1/8-1/4 turn, reverse 1/2 turn to break chip, repeat, repeat).2. Get your t-handle, extension (if needed), socket, and tap set up and apply a small blob of axle grease to the tip of the tap, as well as a tiny blob of grease in the front of each relief channel ground into the tap. This grease will grab most of the chips as the tap does it's work, keeping them out of the combustion chamber.3. Try to get the tap started in the hole, it may take quite a bit of pressure and patience. If necessary, chamfering the hole a bit more may help as it did in my case.NOTE: Once the tap starts to bite in, be very mindful of your straightness with the hole and/or spark plug port. It is critical that the threads get started as straight and true as possible.4. As the tap straightens up in the hole due to the first threads being established, work slowly and pay attention to the force required to turn the tap. If it's an aluminum head and your threads are starting nice and straight, it should never be extreme.5. Only cut 1-1/2 to 2 threads at a time before carefully backing the tap out and cleaning off the grease and chips. Each time you do this, use the vacuum kit to also clean the chips from the hole.6. Repeat step 5 until new threads are cut all the way through. As mentioned previously, if there are full threads at the bottom of the hole, take smaller bites and 'break the chip' more often. Also remove the tap for cleaning more often as you will be producing much more chip volume per thread.7. Use the vacuum kit to reach down into the combustion chamber and vacuum out any metal chips that fell down in there. It's important to get as much of that out as possible to prevent damage to the engine's internal components.8. Use the screwdriver and rag to clean out the grease and metal fines from the new threads and spark plug port as best as possible.9. Apply anti-seize compound to a new spark plug.10. Select the steel thread insert from the kit that most-closely matches the thickness of the threaded section in the head and screw it all the way onto the new sparkplug.11. Apply a very thin coat of the loctite retaining compound on the outer threads of the steel insert.IMPORTANT NOTE: You need to be careful here. One small drop is more than enough, and the excess should be removed with a wipe or q-tip. You don't want any of this to end up between the insert and the spark plug, and you don't want any of it to drip down into the combustion chamber.12. Load the spark plug with insert into your 5/8" spark plug socket and extension (if needed).13. Start the plug with insert into the new, clean threads by hand and make sure it starts straight and does not require excessive force to install. Seat it by hand if possible.14. Using a torque wrench set to the manufacturer's recommended spark plug torque, fully seat and torque the plug with insert.15. Grab a beer, pat yourself on the back, and enjoy life for 24 hours, minimum.16. Get everything cleaned up, put back together, connected, etc. and start the engine! You're done!Hope this helps some brave soul or two...

I didn't have the drill size that some had recommended before running this tap in, but if you take it slow and easy it does get the job done. They do recommend using a thread locker on the helicoil, so I gave myself an extra day for that to set. (I used Permatex red.) Saved having to get a new lawn mower!

works well

Snowblower reported as no power. On inspection, one issue was the spark plug threads were all stripped but one that had a weak grip on the plug. Using this tool with a 9/16ths quality drill and Loctite Threadlocker Red, I was able to have the oversized hole drilled out (go slow and steady), insert with Red on applied and the new plug in place within 30 minutes. Leaving Red to cure for 24 hours per instructions, the snowblower is back to full working order and the plug tight. It also got a carb replacement as the secondary no-power issue. Important items to consider, put grease on drill bit to catch swarth, drilling out the original plug hole requires some skill to stop the drill bit jumping about, go slow and hold the drill steadily. Put the piston to TDC with all valves closed to inhibit pulling too much swarth into bore. Use tissue or cotton wool in the cylinder with more grease to catch swarth. Grease the tap. If you do not have a tap handle of the size to fit tap nut, use the heaviest ratchet wrench and go steady with weight applied to get it started straight. Vacuum cylinder and inspect afterwards to remove final metal filings, you do not want them in bore or intake to scratch the cylinder walls. Use Threadlocker Red (strongest) to hold the insert in place but give it the 24 hours cure time before trying to start the motor. Use the spark plug to screw in the insert and get it in tight, but not so tight that you cause the original issue again.

Drilled out bad threads with a 9/16 drill bit. Used some Tap Magic on the tap and it cut perfect threads in the aluminum head. Used red Loc Tite on the insert to lock it in place.