I've done the helicoil insert method before in an cavalier. I didn't bother drilling it out, just applied grease to the threads of the tap and turned it in.(the grease will catch the filings)The head was made of aluminum so its pretty soft and easy to tap. Installed the helicoil and used red loctite to make sure it wasn't coming out. Its my buddys car, so far its lasted two years and 50,000km. Cheaper than pulling the head, but self admittedly a little backyard way of doing it. Good Luck whatever you decide.

 

personally id rather pay whatever it took to make sure when im out riding that doesnt happen again. how many miles do you have on the motor ? if its highmiles id say replace the motor .. im not saying thats the cheapest way to go but for someone who has highmiles id rather do that JMO good luck

 

Thanks for all of the help guys! I'm going to take the bike to the shop and have the entirehead replaced. There's really nothing wrong with the motor other than the spark plug issue (engine has 16K). I don't want to take a chance on having a shop not get all of the metal shaving out, or the helicoil or timesert coming out while I'm doing routine maintance. I found a shop here in the ATX thatwill do it for a feasible price. I'm also gonna have the CCT replaced while the engine is out.

Again THANKS for all the help. I'll send an update when the work is complete.

 

double check their work! mechanics aren't truly experts...i learned the hard way...

t

 

patrick_nobles, just curious but how much would replacing the heads and the cct would cost you in your area.

 

the cct dont have to be replace for all years right, they did fix that problem in the newers hondas or was that bad information i was given.