My project today: 150212-0120-B8 B&S Power Built™ 1150 engine (pressure washer application). I must have overtightened the muffler mounting bolts that I found loose when setting the overhead at one time, and both let loose (I hate aluminum threads) and they rattled out with all the vibration. I sure didn’t want to purchase a new cylinder head and didn’t want to spend between $25 and $40 for a HeliCoil kit that I would probably never use again. I had a 5/16-18 kit from another project (Tecumseh head bolts) a while back, so I decided to see if I could recoup some of its cost.
After inspecting the meat around the exhaust port, I decided to replace the M6 bolts with 5/16”, only a diameter difference of 0.078”. I did have to ream the muffler flange holes and gasket. All went well although the 5/16” hex bolts out of one of my treasure coffee cans could not be tightened due to interference from the weld between the flange and pipe and not being able to get a socket on them. I headed to Ace Hardware and picked up a couple stainless steel 5/16 X ¾” internal hex bolts and lock washers to take up the needed space and bingo everything fell into place. I would bet the farm that those will never loosen up and fall out. A happy camper in the Platte River Valley, I am, and only short a little time (worth nothing) and $2.59.
Thanks for listening.