Author Topic: where to buy a good tap and die set?  (Read 3770 times)

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Offline Kawasakinut

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where to buy a good tap and die set?
« on: June 11, 2008, 12:00:46 PM »
     well i get my frame and other parts back from the powdercoater
in a couple days. i was wondering where to buy a good tap and dye
set? i'm pretty sure i'm going to need one. Anybody here ever had to
take powdercoating off fitment areas, such as bottom triple clamp
and frame and swingarm fitment areas? Also how do you know what size tap to use in the various holes?   
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Offline BDI

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #1 on: June 11, 2008, 02:27:27 PM »
I have a craftsman set that I hve been happy with. You know what I have been thinking about doing for a while Is after I get my frame back from the powder coat place take it and have it rhino lined. I want to just do the bottom half from the top of the wish bone over the exhaust port, down under the engine and up the sides where your boots rub.
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Offline GDubb

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2008, 04:20:35 PM »
I have a craftsman set that I hve been happy with. You know what I have been thinking about doing for a while Is after I get my frame back from the powder coat place take it and have it rhino lined. I want to just do the bottom half from the top of the wish bone over the exhaust port, down under the engine and up the sides where your boots rub.

Good idea... seems it would add some grip where the boots rub.
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Offline Hillclimb#42

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #3 on: June 11, 2008, 11:46:27 PM »
 Yep, my k5 is gloss black frame. They had a bunch of rubber cones stuck in every hole, but still had to work at it to re-assemble. For the most part, I just needed to clean-up the first turn or two of threads. Just have to take your time and look at everything, I used bolts to tap it back out, where I could. Not going to work tho, if you have alot in there. Tap and Die is definately the right way. My two cents, is get some new bolts. I found boxes of metric boots at the bike shop for cheap. The new powder coat will make old bolts look older. On my bike, the little bit of powder coat that was in the first thread or two, acted like loc-tite, so it kinda helped. I just was very careful not to force them. You could always use something that is extra part (or metric nut that works on spefic bolt)to test tap. Of course you have the bolts you pulled out to compare to. Anything like sand paper or utilty knife to clean out fitment areas depending on how thick it is. You'll appreciate the durability of that stuff before you're done, thats for sure.
  That thing should be showroom now huh? Powder-coated, Stewart-built, green-machine. (black now) where's the pics?
« Last Edit: June 12, 2008, 12:31:04 AM by Hillclimb#42 »

Offline Kawasakinut

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #4 on: June 12, 2008, 02:40:40 AM »
       hillclimb i get the powdercoated parts back maybe tommorow or
monday. just still wondering how do ya know what size tap or die to
use on each threaded hole. do you go by the size of the bolt head?
or maybe the exploded diagram has the size of each thread hole?
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Offline BDI

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #5 on: June 12, 2008, 04:54:35 AM »
It should not be that hard there is not that many different sizes on your bike.What year is your bike I have a 2002 kx250 frame I could check all the holes and give you tap sizes and thread pitch. I also agree with hillclimber#42 nothing makes a bike resto look better then all new hardware, The correct hardware not from the harware store.
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Offline Kawasakinut

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #6 on: June 12, 2008, 05:46:21 AM »
     never used a tap before but now i'm starting to understand. your right bdi all the hardware is basically the same size on the threads. anyway mines a 2000. 
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Offline Hillclimb#42

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #7 on: June 12, 2008, 06:57:59 AM »
 Just be careful with them. Turn it in very gently until it digs in just a little, back out 1/4 to 1/2 turn, Then back in to the bite, then repeat that until you are in. You'll get the hang of it quickly. If it has alot in there, you may have to withdraw it all of the way once or twice, to get out the loosened powder coat. Absolutely don't want to break hardened steel tap in a hole!!!!! You can probably rent a set of metric taps or maybe free at Auto zone. They loan tools with a deposit deal. You may be just freakin' though, kwskinut. It looks like you know the right people to deal with. The powder-coaters will probably save you most of the work by corking every threaded hole and obvious fitment areas.

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #8 on: June 12, 2008, 01:56:49 PM »
when I had my 03 250 powder coated the shop put a bolt it just about every hole but there were some spots that the powdercoating made it a pain in the butt to install back like the foot peg pin holes, the linkage flanges......stuff thats something goes thru basically that doesnt use a bolt oh yeah and the swingarm/main engine bolt was a royal pain

Offline Kawasakinut

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Re: where to buy a good tap and die set?
« Reply #9 on: June 13, 2008, 04:53:31 PM »
       thanks guys for all your replies, but i really had no need for a tap and dye set. got my part back and all the fasteners went in pretty good. i did a semi mock up and have pics in my (what to do with frame) thread!!!
htpp://www.youtube.com/jimvpa