Yardvacuum Impeller Removal

STEVES

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Most hardware stores sell taps individually, cheaper than kit & better quality.
 

l008com

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Tonight I took an imprint of the threads in the hole with some hot glue, and when I held it up to the bolt (7/16-20) I was very surprised that it lined up perfectly! It looks like its a little off on the left edge but thats just an optical illusion due to camera angle. It really was a perfectly alignment all the way across the contact area.

thread-alignement.jpg

This makes me wonder if I can/should just put the bolt back and force it.

I guess in the end this doesn't really change my plan, I should just get a 7/16-20 tap and it will either slightly expand the diameter or clean the threads or whatever the problem is, it should fix it.
 

STEVES

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Could also pick up a thread chaser kit
 

Tool_Maker_Tim

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Tonight I took an imprint of the threads in the hole with some hot glue, and when I held it up to the bolt (7/16-20) I was very surprised that it lined up perfectly! It looks like its a little off on the left edge but thats just an optical illusion due to camera angle. It really was a perfectly alignment all the way across the contact area.

View attachment 70272

This makes me wonder if I can/should just put the bolt back and force it.

I guess in the end this doesn't really change my plan, I should just get a 7/16-20 tap and it will either slightly expand the diameter or clean the threads or whatever the problem is, it should fix it.
Go to Ace Hardware and see if they stock the tap you require. I am a toolmaker with over forty years of experience in this business. Though I possess nearly every tap and die known to man, occasionally I have to make a trip to the local ace hardware store myself. if it is a one-off use on aluminum or mild steel, don't fret about purchasing a tap or die made of hardened tool steel, but if you plan on using it in more of a production role, then go with a ground high-speed steel version. A good source for higher quality tools is MSC Industrial Supply. They have been my "Go-to" resource for many years. good luck and should you require any technical advice, do not hesitate to contact me. My name is Tim, and I will give you any help that I can.
 

StarTech

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You not going the M11-1.25 at MSC or McMaster. Now there are some on Amazon. This is a very odd size and most places will not have it.

Now most places will have the 7/16-20 tap as it is a common size.
 

l008com

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NAPA had the tap for $4.50 and I am now the proud owner of it.
However if I start messing with this now, its going to turn into a whole huge thing, so I'm going to wait until the end of the week.

I did VERY briefly play around with hand threading it in, and strangely the bolt goes in a lot further than the tap, even though you can line them up and clearly see that they are a perfect match. Very odd. Whatever the issue is, I'll force it through next weekend and hopefully it all works out.
 

l008com

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WELP, this didn't work out so well. I tapped the hole, then put in my spacer to push against, and then my 7/16" bolt and once it got snug, I started tightening it down and instead of popping the impeller off, it stripped the hole right out!

So yeah at this point, I'm kind of wishing I had just went with the official tool, but that tool won't do me any good now. Plus its possible the proper tool would have stripped too, then I'd be in the same boat I'm in now but with even more money wasted.

I'm in too deep though, I can't turn back now, I must keep going!
So I'm thinking I get a half inch tap, half inch bolt, and dry again?

What size drill bit should I use for a half inch tap?

AND do I want fine threading, so theres more threads to grab, or coarse threading, so the threads are larger and harder to strip? Which is best in a situation like this?

ALSO should I skip 1/2" all together and to right to something even bigger like a 5/8"? That seems excessive, but I gotta get this impeller off somehow.
 

ILENGINE

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1/2 inch tap uses a 29/64 drill bit. And went back and looked at your original picture in post 1 and still think as I did then that the threads in that impellor looked damaged.
 

l008com

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We'll never know for sure if the original threads were damaged or ok (they looked good to me in person).
But they're definitely damaged now! as they sit in a pile of dirt on my floor.
 

l008com

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Does anyone have any thoughts on whether I should go with the coarse threading or fine threading on the new 1/2" hole and bolt?

I think the options are 1/2"-13 and 1/2"-20.
 
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