Date:         Mon, 6 Apr 1998 14:45:07 -0400
Reply-To:     Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Derek Drew <drew@INTERPORT.NET>
Subject:      M9 x 1.5 tap--$80 (for putting in new studs)
Comments: To: vanagon@vanagon.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I noticed some time ago discussions on the list about what to do if the
studs on your motor break and you need to repair them.

Someone mentioned that VW sells an oversize stud of size M9 x 1.5 to put
into the motor, but others chimed in that installing this oversize stud was
silly because to do so you have to find an M9 x 1.5 tap to tape the hole in
the motor. Finding such a tap was almost impossible, the consensus was.

Dennis Haynes also mentioned at the time that a helicoil set was really the
best way to deal with a broken stud, partly for this reason, and partly
because the helicoil was not going to rust.

Well, I was communicating with McMaster Carr to get stainless steel exhaust
hardware last week (www.mcmaster.com--so I could change my muffler) and I
asked them about the availability of this tap since they seemed to carry
just about everything.

They researched the subject and today responded that for a bottoming tap in
this size the cost would be $79 and it would be special order.

So needless to say, I am having second thoughts about buying one just to
have for a rainy day.

(On the other hand, it is going to rain on me soon because I already broke
the studs on my spare motor, and now I want to get the pipes off the 90
motor that operates my van and I bet I will break them too.)

Are there any list members with an M9 x 1.5 tap in your collection, and
where did you get it? I figure this ought to be a $9 tool piece.


_____________________________________________________
Derek Drew                           New York, NY & Washington DC
ConsumerSearch
drew@interport.net
212-580-6486 (W)
212-580-4459 (H)