I hate old bikes!

[KAS]

I would helicoil every single hole you can get to when the cylinder is off. My buddy had a XR500R a few years back and when he had the motor out to the Honda shop they told him he had a couple bad holes and they recommended on a bike that old doing em all so that it would not be a problem in the future. It saved him a lot of heartache.

Bingo!

I had an '84 XR500, the same thing happened. I took it apart, said piss on it and had EVERYTHING helicoiled.

[martinfan30]

Time-serts are the way to go, forget helicoils.

http://www.timesert.com/

[slepe67]

Time-serts are the way to go, forget helicoils.

http://www.timesert.com/

amen!

just don't forget the anti-sieze and loctite! (lesson learned) AND DON'T TORQUE THAT THING DOWN SO HARD!!! (lesson learned again)?

[Beyond The Pale]

Time-serts are the way to go, forget helicoils.

http://www.timesert.com/

I'd love to use them, but the price barrier to entry has kept me using helicoil type inserts.

Spark plug kit $400 !!!!

6mm kit $70