Stripped Threaded Plastic Holes

[bscotti]

It's all happened to us ... Oh I'll just snug up all these screws before my next run ... oops ...

Are there any repairs that work? With many of our parts nla or nearly impossible to replace like a TPS trans, what's a vintage guy to do? Has anyone tried a helicoil?

[Eau Rouge]

4-40 helicoils are available, but many areas of these things don't have enough meat to insert a helicoil. If it does, it's an option.

The simple and quick fix is a drop of CA into the stripped hole, let it set up a tick, then thread the screw into the proper depth. Then try to remember for next time that there are few, if any, threads in an R/C car that can take torque of over tightening. If its a metal to metal connection, and you don't want it to fall out, use blue or purple Loctite thread locker. If it is a machine screw into nylon or graphite, you won't need anything extra, just snug the screw up and leave it—it won't fall out ever.

[MelvinsArmy]

Yep, CA for plastic and nylon. We did that all the time back when I raced.

[bscotti]

Thanks guys. Nice simple solution.