Stripped 2 screws in airbox

[thekurgan]

I've accidentally stripped 2 of the fillister head screws in the airbox and want to do some more permanent repair by using these:

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-th...nserts/=nri66p


My question centers around how much plastic is available in the lower airbox to utilize these things?

Has anyone else stripped these in the cheap ass plastic airbox and done an effective repair?

Other ideas were:

teflon tape on the screws
fill airbox holes with resin, let harden, then re-tap for the fillister screws


This thread shows some photos, I've not taken anything apart again:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=172101


Thanks for any creative insight.

[MasterP]

I like the Epoxy idea.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by TrakBch

I like the Epoxy idea.

Thanks man, I think you're right, there probably isn't enough plastic meat to hold an insert. I'll pick up some epoxy with the needle dispenser and try one.

[pbonsalb]

Might just screw right out. Would have to be the right stuff to fuse to the existing plastic. Let us know how it goes.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Might just screw right out. Would have to be the right stuff to fuse to the existing plastic. Let us know how it goes.

Yeah, I'm worried about wrecking the expensive box. I'm planning to take some photos, I can't be the only one to strip these things.

[warp10]

I had this happen. so i went to the dealership and they literally just found two bolts with the same head as the standard but wider threads and they screw them right in and fixed it.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by warp10

I had this happen. so i went to the dealership and they literally just found two bolts with the same head as the standard but wider threads and they screw them right in and fixed it.

I had thought of this as well, may do a home depot run and find a slightly wider size. I think with the hot/cold cycles in the engine bay, the plastic in this box has weakened or distorted the lower screw holes. I wonder why this box doesn't use the spring clips.

[e92zero]

I had a couple holes stripped also but they were stripped by the dealership when they change the filter. Would like to know others that has this fixed also. Thanks in advance.

[thekurgan]

I'm going to try a couple of things, using liquid nails and some epoxy resin in the holes, coating a screw with WD-40 and screw while the glue is almost set. I was thinking of using plumber's tape, but these screws are just too small. I checked last night and there isn't much meat to keep going with larger screws, especially on the lid. I'll take some photos and will find a syringe to dispense the glue.

Thanks for the ideas, I was hoping the mcmaster inserts would work, but doesn't look like it.

[Fsarc]

thekurgan- Just had this happen to me as well after changing out my air filter. This is the solution I used and it worked perfectly-

I used a small 4" tie wrap and cut the very tip off (non-ribbed part) so it was a little longer than the threaded portion of the fillister screw and dropped into the hole on the bottom portion of the intake muffler. I made sure the fillister screw was nice and straight and gently threaded it in. The plastic from the tie wrap was able to allow the screw to get moderately tight- you can definitely feel it grab at the end. Just make sure you don't over do it. Hope you can give this a try and see if it works for you as well.

[thekurgan]

Originally Posted by Fsarc

thekurgan- Just had this happen to me as well after changing out my air filter. This is the solution I used and it worked perfectly-

I used a small 4" tie wrap and cut the very tip off (non-ribbed part) so it was a little longer than the threaded portion of the fillister screw and dropped into the hole on the bottom portion of the intake muffler. I made sure the fillister screw was nice and straight and gently threaded it in. The plastic from the tie wrap was able to allow the screw to get moderately tight- you can definitely feel it grab at the end. Just make sure you don't over do it. Hope you can give this a try and see if it works for you as well.

Damn man, now that's creative. I've got a shit load of those little ties, I'll try it tomorrow before any glue. I'm glad I'm not the only one that this has happened too. Thanks.

[thekurgan]

Worked sweet! I placed a piece of the tie wrap into 2 of the stripped holes in the airbox and hand tightened. Here are some photos of the empty hole, and a larger-than-necessary piece of the tie wrap so you guys could see it, I trimmed it to just below level after the photo.

Thanks again and FWIW, there is not enough meat to use an insert, even glue would be difficult and messy.

[Fsarc]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Worked sweet! I placed a piece of the tie wrap into 2 of the stripped holes in the airbox and hand tightened. Here are some photos of the empty hole, and a larger-than-necessary piece of the tie wrap so you guys could see it, I trimmed it to just below level after the photo.

Thanks again and FWIW, there is not enough meat to use an insert, even glue would be difficult and messy.

Nice!

[e92zero]

Originally Posted by Fsarc

thekurgan- Just had this happen to me as well after changing out my air filter. This is the solution I used and it worked perfectly-

I used a small 4" tie wrap and cut the very tip off (non-ribbed part) so it was a little longer than the threaded portion of the fillister screw and dropped into the hole on the bottom portion of the intake muffler. I made sure the fillister screw was nice and straight and gently threaded it in. The plastic from the tie wrap was able to allow the screw to get moderately tight- you can definitely feel it grab at the end. Just make sure you don't over do it. Hope you can give this a try and see if it works for you as well.

Thanks! I will give that a try next time I change the air filter which should be coming up soon.