Question about a helicoil

[Twilight]

If any of you havent seen my big red threads yet, then you should know ive tried everything to get her running again from last summer.

Today I called the original owner and he told me the spark plug hole was stripped somewhere along the line. My question is; He had it heli-coiled 2 weeks before selling it to me, could this have been done wrong so that the angle isnt right to get a ignition spark off the engine? The engine was in a slow downhill in July after I replaced the plug, and after new gaskets, new rocker box, new valves, and no changes...it died when I put a new plug in.

Could this be the problem? While looking at the head it does seem at a odd angle and also somewhat sunken into the hole (not coming out like it does on my 200x).

Anyone think this is a plausible reason?

[RedRider_AK]

Does it have compression? If the heli-coil was done wrong it could very well be leaking compression out. I would junk that head and stick a new one on there, heli-coils are usually crap for spark plug holes anyway.

[Dirtcrasher]

Although it may be a bit crooked, as long as it's sealing and not interfering with the valves, I'd say that is not your problem.....

[Twilight]

I was told it has 145 compression, but without the correct adapter I cant check for sure.

I do know it has enough to keep the depcompression lever up.

[Twilight]

Well I butchered a spark plug and made one after the only place said "im not going through buckets of adapters to find just one"

24psi compression according to my adapter. My 200x has 160psi according to it.

so.... where should I start?

[Ken99287]

new head and gasket

[RedRider_AK]

You should start with a new head like I told you.

I love how you were told it had 140 psi and it turns out to have 24. That is literally NOTHING.

[Twilight]

Yeah, never trust your GF to take a simple test...lol

Are those rebuild kits off ebay worth it? Or should I try here?

[RedRider_AK]

Look for a used head either here or on Ebay. You can stick on any head off any 200cc ATC, so that widens the search possibilities. Then get a head gasket from Dennis Jerk.

[Twilight]

Can i trust a name like Dennis Jerk =P

[Dirtcrasher]

Sounds like your gauge may not be sealing well, I put an o ring on mine to get a good reading. If it blows your thumb off of the hole when you pull or kick it, then it has a good amount of compression. The plug should seal on a flat shoulder surface, if it is below the surface that sounds bad. Could it be low enough that the piston contacts it and bends the gap closed??

[Twilight]

That was my first suspicion, but when i removed the head, I found a 1/8in gap to where the spark plug wasnt even down the threaded hole enough. Thats why i suspected the helicoil may be wrong.

I'll put an o-ring on it though, but not sure if that will make a difference. Its as far as I can tighten, yet doesnt reach anywhere near the dome.