Rescue Horse

[JamesBe1 80]

Well, after lots and lots of drilling, I finally decided I had drilled enough. The last thing I wanted to do was to drill through into the crankcase by being off center. I think there is still a bit of easyout in there, but it appears to be part of the block now.

I got a tap and die set in the mail this morning and spent the afternoon tapping new threads. Had to take a break to go pick up a sulky from Jeff in Ct. That's one of my next projects.

After tapping it out as deep as I could. At a certain point, I noticed it going off center. I figured that was because of the remnants of the easyout (not so easy to get them out!). I called it quits after I was pretty sure that I had threads into the block. After taking the tap out, I noticed that it's threads were dulled pretty badly from trying to cut the hardened steel of the easyout. I drilled out the threads in the cover plate after that.

I couldn't find the right length bolt at any of the local places. The correct length is 1 3/4". I could only find either 1 1/2" or 2". I tried the 1 1/2", and it was a little too long, so I had to cut it down. Apparently, I could have drilled even further, but the cobalt drill bits were dulled at this point from hitting the easyout.

Started to reassemble, and found that the bolt was now too short as I didn't take into account the thickness of the lock washer and the engine tin. I know, I know. You're all thinking that it doesn't give me a lot of thread to hold it in place with if that much distance made the difference. You're right, but at this point, if it holds, I'm not going to cry about it.

So I got the 2" bolt, and cut it down a bit. Apparently, I cut it too little, so I cut it again and it finally fit (ponder that for a while!)

I am now happy to say that it is all back together again. Some the worse for wear (me too), but at least now I can keep moving forward.