Keysert, Helicoil, or other

[James Matteu]

Years ago, I was changing the Timing Belt and when it came time to reinstall the Passenger Side Motor Mount the bolts, all three since I was fastening them in steps, wailed like beaten children. For the life of me I couldn't figure out when the threads were getting so hot. In the past I had been able to thread these bolts in by hand and finish them with the Torque Wrench. I ended up using a breaker bar and working them in back and forth.

 

I later found out the bracket is a $250 part and decided to put the whole thing off until I had to do the Timing Belt again.

 

Last winter, I started to hear an intermittent clanking and was never able to isolate it.

 

Over the last few weeks the clanking has become more and more frequent and so I took a closer look at the mounts after reading in a few places that C27s can make that noise when the torque converter is failing or when there is a bad motor mount; the old problem immediately came to mind.

 

This is what I found:

 

 

 

 

I ordered a new motor mount and new bolts, now I need to repair the threads on the $250 PS/Alt/Motormount Bracket that's only available from Honda.

 

Helicoil: the competition says they have a smaller outer diameter but I cannot find what Helicoil's OD is and will it matter? I read that these tend to back out from repeated use, can anyone confirm?

 

Keysert: 12M-1.25 has an OD of 16M and I'm wondering if they can hold the motor mount in place. Can it hold 40+ ft-lbs of torque?

 

Timesert: same as Keysert but with a different design, so which is better for my application?

 

I'm a bit frustrated cause I went to the part store and they only had Helicoil and then said if I've never used Helicoil I could mess up the part and have to replace it. I asked him how that was any different than what my situation is now and then he admitted to not knowing anything about inserts after I saw through his facade of BS.

 

Help, I need to know which is best for my application!

[Xeryon]

The bottom line is you damaged the threads on your accessory bracket?

 

Your car was a common one. Why not obtain one from a salvage yard? Knowing your tendency towards perfection you can have it blasted and power coated while you are at it.

[James Matteu]

Actually, the Accord V6 is not common and the Legend sporting the same motor has a different bracket though I haven't looked to see if the Legend bracket can be adapted, thanks for the idea.

 

No experience with Helicoil? Keysert? Timesert?

[Humphries]

v6 c27 engine?

 

i'll check the junkyards around here and see if i see anything.

 

pm you if i do.

[Humphries]

and i believe an m12 helicoil should be fine for 40 ft/lbs.

 

i've done 38 ft/lbs on an m8 helicoil

[James Matteu]

Thanks for offering to check but lets wait and see how the Helicoil turns out. A guy on another forum said he'd used Helicoil in the way I want to and had no issues.

 

I will provide an update as soon as the new bolts arrive.

[Xeryon]

I haven't used any of the items you mentioned. I am just a shade-tree mechanic. I am sure you and Billy both have a hell of a lot more experience under your belts wrenching than I do.

 

And the c27 wasn't as rare as you might think. I can't find the sales numbers on short notice, but they put that engine in there 3 of the 4 model years. Physical attrition has taken quite a number of them off of the road even if mechanical attrition did not. I have a coworker with one. Very nice car.

[James Matteu]

The old guys (white hair) Tool Shack said I needed to use Keysert or Timesert for diesel blocks and plugs. Also, Northstar V8 tend to need them as well. Really, the solid inserts are for high pressure applications. I told him it was going into a steel motor mount and would be torqued to 40 ft-lbs. They said Helicoil will do just fine. They then went on about how the same company makes all three and the brands are the financial entities that distribute the inserts.