What to do, plug is loose now. We drove all over the place trying to find 12 x 125 helix kit but no go.
Is there an easy fix without having to take the head off

 

Try searching McMaster and Carr on-line. They have everything.

 

I'm not sure I would try that with the head on the bike. One stray piece of metal could fall in and then you're looking at a lot more work.

 

Try these work great and easy too.
http://www.timesert.com/html/sparkplug.html

 

What he said they work great , I've repaired a LOT of stripped plug holes on pans & shovels without removing the heads . They a good video on that site that shows you how .

PS ; it's aluminum a few small bits will blown out the first 1/2 second the motor fires , if it was carbide then you worry .

 

Most auto parts stores should have the inserts. I've only done one spark plug hole. I cut a piece of sponge and covered it with grease, stuffed that through the hole before drilling and tapping. Also put a small diameter hose on the shop vac and sucked up chips as I drilled and tapped. Then I pulled the sponge out and again vacuumed the hole.

 

Most of the time the the tap that comes with those kits are a self starter type no drill required , they are tapered to cut / tap all in one operation .

What ever you do DO NOT USE A HELI-COIL waste of money and you have problems later with a bigger hole to fix .

Pack the tap with heavy grease it traps the chips none fall into the cylinder that way . Use a rag soaked with brake cleaner to screw down into the new threads a couple times to clean them . Be sure to use a permanent high strength Loctite if the kit doesn't have some in it and let the bike sit over night to set up .

Your cleaning precaution are a good idea but not really needed and a shot in plug hole with a long thin air nozzle will blow anything that may have dropped in . Canned air like you use to clean electronics will work in a pinch too .

Here's a couple shots of the taps & insert types I use , it's not a hard hi tech job just use common sense you'll do fine .

 

Nice TB!

 

Thanks GL , I come from the old school . If couldn't fix it you were not going to be riding it very long .

First time you blow a plug it does seem like a world of chit has landed on your shoulders so I feel for the guy it is scary .

After the 3rd you've got it down to a 1/2 hr casual , 15 mins if your on the clock .

 

I know what ya mean...I miss being a mechanic!