Cross-threading Problem

[Herman]

I was putting my seat back on and managed to cross thread one of the bolts on the seat (the one right above the rear shock) and screwed the threads up on the nut that is welded on to the tab, which is welded to the frame.

Do I have any options other than grinding off the cross-threaded nut and welding on a new one?

I can grind the nut off, but it's the access to a welder that is the problem.

[DC Smith]

Guess you wouldn't have to weld it, would you?  Just use a nut and bolt until you are able to locate a welder.

And please be more careful next time!!  

[ThomasMagna]

I don't know how bad it is cross threaded, but you might be able to tap out the nut again to the same thread perameters. The tap shouldn't cast too much. I used that technique on the tractor and what ever it was, has been holding fine. Of course I am not running at speed but it vibrates and shakes a good deal. Easier than grinding off the other one and welding one back on. I would think Dan had a good idea too, in not welding it back on. May make it a pain the next time you remove it if you have to hold the nut too. Don't know how much stress JB Weld will take, but that might be an alternative to welding. If that doesn't work then you're back at square 1, or maybe 2 by now.

Good luck

[2fs2ns]

Yeah, if it's not too badly messed up, buy a tap and try to repair it.  Possibly go to a larger size bolt and re-tap it?

[Herman]

I had thought about grinding off the nut and just put a regular nut and bolt on there, but there isn't enough finger room to get the nut on.  I also thought about JB Weld, but questioned its strength in this situation.

I did a little research and found Helicoil ($25 for the kit.  I think it has been mentioned on this sight before).  I drilled out the hole tapped for the helocoil, put in the helicoil, and I was set to go.  Very easy.  Helicoil also claims to be stronger than the threads on the bolt, so you will strip the bolt before the inner threads.  I don't see why they can't make the inner threads stronger than the bolt threads in the first place...just another thing to add to the list for when I rule the world  

Thanks for the help guys.  A stupid mistake on my part, but hey, if we didn't make mistakes, there would be a lot less posts on this site. Just doing my part to keep the posts coming!  

[Magnum Magna]

I know you have already fixed it but would this work.

It would be a lot of work but could you take the fender off.  Screw the screw from the back side to re-align the threads.

[Herman]

I know you have already fixed it but would this work.

It would be a lot of work but could you take the fender off.  Screw the screw from the back side to re-align the threads.

Didn't think about that!!  That probably would have worked, if not the bolt, run a tap through the back way, given it was about the first two rows of inner threads that were damaged.  I was worried about running the tap through the  front and then screwing up the good threads further back.  O-well, 6 of one, half a dozen of the other  

[silveradocowboy]

You probably would have been fine if you used a starter or plug tap since they are tapered. The starter tap has more taper than the plug tap hence the name. A bottom tap would have given you problems lineing things up and started correctly because it is able to cut threads to the bottom of a hole.