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View Poll Results: Are you capable of drilling and tapping a hole in an engine component.
Absolutely. 38 52.05%
Probably. 25 34.25%
Probably not. 8 10.96%
Absolutely not. 2 2.74%
Voters: 73. You may not vote on this poll

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  #1   IP: 38.102.16.112
Old 06-16-2011, 08:46 AM
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Drilling and tapping a hole

Help me settle another breakfast table bet with Don.

The question is this:

Laying aside the issue of access, would you consider yourself capable of drilling and tapping a hole in an engine component and willing to undertake the task for some reasonable benefit?

Bill

Last edited by Administrator; 06-16-2011 at 08:57 AM.
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  #2   IP: 107.0.6.130
Old 06-16-2011, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Administrator View Post
Help me settle another breakfast table bet with Don.

The question is this:

Laying aside the issue of access, would you consider yourself capable of drilling and tapping a hole in an engine component, and willing to undertake the task for some reasonable benefit?

Bill
Yes. I have done it when eliminating the "freeze/expansion" plugs on the manifold.
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  #3   IP: 69.177.114.72
Old 06-16-2011, 09:01 AM
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I voted 'absolutely' as I have done this successfully. Being able to use a drill press for the drilling is a big plus, otherwise you need some sort of fixture to hold the drill (and tap) square. Doing it freehand is asking for trouble as the hole and threads are likely to be off alignment. Often the mating part can be used as a fixture with suitable bushings around the drill and tap.
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Old 06-16-2011, 09:51 AM
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"Absolutely"

I just recently did so when I enlarged my side plate from 3/8" NPT to 1/2" NPT.

I will confess I did the same as Al, and took the plate off and used my drill press & tapped the plate in a vice, so access and alignment were not factors.

However, I have also drilled the block in the boat to repair my failed 1/8" aft block drain and re-tap to 1/4". That was one of my first tasks when the old galvanized piece fell off the motor into my hand the first winter.

The 23/32" drill bit for the 1/2" tap cost 3 times what the tap cost!
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Last edited by sastanley; 06-16-2011 at 09:55 AM.
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  #5   IP: 24.152.131.220
Old 06-16-2011, 09:58 AM
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As this is a do it yourself forum, I would think drilling and tapping would be a basic skill. Sure, there are members who don't consider themselves mechanics but I read over and over their personal satisfaction as they discover they can do it.

For those who don't know or haven't drilled and tapped before, give it a try, it's not that hard.
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  #6   IP: 130.36.62.222
Old 06-16-2011, 10:08 AM
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Yes!

I was really apprehensive about tapping new threads into the engine block for new manifold studs. The old bolts had stripped the threads in the block.

I found it to be easy (soft metal on the block) and VERY rewarding.

Careful to go in straight, and not "screw"-up, things went well.

Using a helicoil and JB weld, now I have a well-seated manifold via studs.

-Rick
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  #7   IP: 199.173.224.31
Old 06-16-2011, 11:17 AM
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On my old engine, I did it by HAND - turning the tap with a wrench due to lack of access.

Of course this may help explain why I got a new engine
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  #8   IP: 174.65.54.224
Old 06-16-2011, 10:55 PM
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Yes..........
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  #9   IP: 38.102.16.112
Old 06-17-2011, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
owning a 1700-pound, 36" bandsaw dating from about 1910
I'm embarrassed to say that my engineering education is so dated that one of the ways we were taught to measure the "value" of machinery was by its weight. Heavier=better.

Of course, we were looking up logs, carrying around slide rules (a badge of honor), etc. at the time. Ours was the first class not required to do drawings in ink.

Bill
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  #10   IP: 24.152.131.220
Old 06-17-2011, 10:06 AM
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Oooh, that brings back memories. I still have my bamboo Pickett.

I also believe learning CAD is much easier if you've come from a T-square background. In fact, up until maybe the late 70's I had a cabled straightedge drafting table after which I graduated to a mechanical drafting arm. Now they're museum pieces as am I.

Scum bags, triangles, compass, circle and ellipse guides, eraser shield, slide rule, I had experience with all of that stuff but I swear NO POCKET PROTECTOR! NEVER!!

The first electric calculator I ever saw was in a physics class in my second year of college. It was the size of a phone book and cost $800 (over $2K in today's money). Where's my Geritol? Any of you whippersnappers even know what Geritol is?
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  #11   IP: 68.224.125.208
Old 06-17-2011, 10:51 AM
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Where's my Geritol? Any of you whippersnappers even know what Geritol is?
And did you watch Jack LaLanne every morning on KCOP?
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  #12   IP: 24.152.131.220
Old 06-17-2011, 12:14 PM
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Old 06-18-2011, 12:17 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Administrator View Post
I'm embarrassed to say that my engineering education is so dated that one of the ways we were taught to measure the "value" of machinery was by its weight. Heavier=better.
Well 1,700 lbs. actually is on the light side for a 36" bandsaw. Some of the really high-end 36" saws (Tannewitz, Crescent), typically weigh more like 2,000 or more. I figure 1,700 is heavy enough.

I also have a late 1930's Walker-Turner 16" saw that is just under 500 lbs. It's all cast iron, whereas today's modern 16" saws are all stamped steel and aluminum.
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  #14   IP: 174.94.19.65
Old 11-01-2011, 05:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Administrator View Post
Help me settle another breakfast table bet with Don.

The question is this:

Laying aside the issue of access, would you consider yourself capable of drilling and tapping a hole in an engine component and willing to undertake the task for some reasonable benefit?

Bill
For a million bucks I'd do just about anything!



For the record - drilling and tapping a hole with the right tools and technique...no sweat.

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  #15   IP: 99.249.253.58
Old 11-01-2011, 06:26 PM
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Dont yell at me........

It would be very interesting to see what the average age is of those who have the skill of drilling and tapping......
I'm 45, , and grew up with my older brothers building real Hot Rods ( unlike the annoying things that swarm around today , that beg to be swatted with a rolled up newspaper) I was exposed to many mechanical tricks , however this wasnt one of them.
Hopefully my 35 year old A-4 wont require this procedure any time soon.......
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Old 11-01-2011, 08:51 PM
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I'm 45. Took machine shop, welding, and three semesters of small engine repair in high school. Spent a lot of time taking apart and putting back together my various bicycles, and those of my buddies (we used to make custom "choppers" out of our 20-inch Schwinns) and later, my dad's lawnmowers (rebuilt the transaxle on the riding mower when I was 15, much to my dad's amazement and relief when I got it back together and it actually worked) and then my motorcycle (1972 Yamaha DT250).

In more recent years, I have done full tear-down, nuts and bolts restorations of antique woodworking machinery.

I've actually never really considered myself a "gear head", per se, because I've never really gotten into engine building or hot rodding - but I always have been a hard-core do-it-yourselfer and home handyman. My motto is "I can fix anything." So far, that pretty much has proven to be true.
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Old 12-23-2016, 11:18 AM
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I do not know if I am capable. Never tried it in my engine, or an engine component. So, I could not reply to the survey. Have drilled/tapped into my aluminum mast and boom however. Successfully.
Mary
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