Sx-m bearing cover with stripped dipstick hole

[jgibbs2037]

Hello.
I overtightened and stripped the dipstick hole for my 2000 sx-m.
If it helps, the dipstick is "oil indicator 3854847" and the bearing cover is 3854401.

As a new bearing cover is $401, I'd like to either;
1. Add a helicoil to the stripped hole
2. Re-tap the hole and just put an oil drain plug bolt in there (and save the dipstick in my oil change kit for future gear lube level checks)

Does anyone know the thread size of that oil hole? It looks unusual...not a standard machine thread size.
anyone see adding a helicoil to be a bad idea?

Thanks

 

[alldodge]

I don't see an issue with tap and plug but don't know the thread size.
Maybe @muc might know and have a better idea

 

[Bondo]

I donno 'bout the Volvo dipstick, but the industry standard for drive oil plugs is 3/8-16,...

 

[alldodge]

Ya know, the piece is aluminum. Take it to a machine or welding shop and fill in the threads. Then drill and tap

 

[jgibbs2037]

According to my hole gauge, it's 15/32...so I assume it's actually an m12, but it's pretty coarse. Maybe m12x2?

 

[muc]

I have replaced a few of these that the customer tried to helicoil because they were cracked and leaking. Also replaced a couple that were cracked but hadn’t been helicoil. A dealer see’s these because a new cover requires shimming and that scares some customers. My point is that you should look very closely for a crack, because that’s very common.
if it was my boat. I would just have the hole welded shut and forget the dipstick. There is a level check plug on the SX-M that works as good or better than the dipstick. Wouldn’t recommend a helicoil because they seem to further weaken a already weak area.

 

[Wave34]

I had the same problem last year.
Threads are 1/2-13

Look here, I wrote the details of my repair.
I didn't use Helicoil because it required a hole too big. There is a oil feed channel I didn't want to block with the Helicoil, and also I was afraid that the Helicoil would fall in the outdrive with vibration or many heat/cool cycles.
I did 70 hrs this summer and it is holding well. Only screw the dipstick by hand, then give a bit more with a screwdriver, not a wrench.

https://forums.iboats.com/threads/shimming-bearing-cover-dp-sm-sx-m.742643/#post-5644523

 

[TonyJones]

Hi everyone,
I am trying to find the P/N of the shims for the top bearing cover. I just purchased a new cover P/N 3854401 and the OEM manual suggest re-shimming.

 

[Bondo]

Hi everyone,
I am trying to find the P/N of the shims for the top bearing cover. I just purchased a new cover P/N 3854401 and the OEM manual suggest re-shimming.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,...... You need to start a thread of yer own, insteada hy-jackin' this one,.....