TIME-SERT ® FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

TIME-SERT® is a thin wall, solid bushing, self locking insert with positive placement.

TIME-SERT® inserts are a thin wall solid bushing insert. This guarantees easy installation and allows for full load use of tapped hole, ensuring protection against stress and vibration.
TIME-SERT® inserts are "timed" internal to external which gives a very thin wall thickness which means TIME-SERTs can be installed in areas of limited space and clearance.
TIME-SERT® being a solid bushing insert gives it added strength, easily withstands high temperatures without damage or deforming. TIME-SERT® inserts have no prongs or tangs to break off or deal with down in the hole, which can be a problem in deep holes.

TIME-SERT® inserts are self-locking having an actual locking feature which will prevent them from coming out when a bolt is removed. On installation the bottom few internal threads of the insert are cold rolled to expand into the mating external threads of the base material locking the insert in place.

TIME-SERT® inserts have a flange, which will give them a positive placement on installation for “accurate specific depths”. This ensures that the insert does not wind down into the threaded hole.
Thin wall, self locking , solid bushing insert with positive placement .

Customers have asked if they may also use Loctite® adhesives for additional strength. Yes you may due to the solid wall design. There is no danger of loctite passing thru the threads of the insert and locking up the bolt as in coil types. Time-Sert inserts are used in Aluminum, cast iron, steels and even some hard plastics. MADE IN THE USA
Click here for close up tooling video

TIME-SERT inserts are made from 12L14 carbon steel and 303 stainless steel.

Click links for material specifications in PDF format.

12L14 Carbon Steel (click here)

303 Stainless Steel (click here)

2024 T351 Aluminum (click here)

MPa to PSI calculators

We recommend the standard carbon steel inserts for most applications. Stainless steel is recommended for the medical or food industry, and water applications. Stainless steel may cause galling in heated applications.

Yes TIME-SERTs can be installed in blind holes.
A basic dimension we give is .250 inches or 6.3mm deeper hole, than the insert itself.
This is the relief angle length of the tap we have to account for to get a full thread.
This can vary as small taps will have shorter relief angle length than larger taps.
Again this is the length from the tip of the tap to the first "full" thread.

The extra depth also gives us enough room for the install driver to slightly pass though the bottom of the insert to expand the last few threads, locking it in place.
Example.  The blind hole depth for a 5/16-18x.450 should be a minimum of .700 inches or 17.8mm deep.
Insert length .450 + relief angle of tap .250 =.700 inches or 17.8mm Hole Depth.

Another thing to keep in mind when repairing a blind hole application is that you "do not" want to bottom out the driver tool on installation. There is a simple method to safeguard against bottoming the tool out, by placing a visual mark the driver tool.
Before installing the insert, place the driver tool into the hole and mark the tool at the point it can't enter any further. Use a ink marker or even use a small strip of electrical tape around the driver. This way we know exactly how deep the hole is and there is no danger of bottoming the tool out.

TIME-SERTs can be removed with a spiral point screw extractor, or drilled out with the drill that came in the repair kit.

Link: Screw Extractors

Yes, if the threads in the base material are not damaged a new TIME-SERT can be re-inserted into that hole. This is a common practice on CNC pallet changers. When an insert starts to show wear over time, the insert can be removed with a screw extractor then replaced with a new one.

The standard TIME-SERTs carbon steel inserts are plated with zinc phosphate. Sparkplug washer seat inserts are plated with copper plating and sparkplug taper seat are silver plated.

1)Was the insert actually installed correctly and square to the hole? This would have a huge effect on the outcome of the torque specification. Along with what type of material being inserted, plastics will not have the same torque values as aluminum's, steels, or cast irons. Another thing to keep in mind is the length of the insert. Inserts must match the length of the bolt threading into the hole. Too short of an insert length could result in thread failure.

TIME-SERT will state that if the thread repair is done correctly and with the proper length of insert used for the application, the result should be a hole that will match the original torque specification of the hole. 

Customers have found in their own testing data that TIME-SERT’s have exceeded their expectations. Many of our larger customers will test TIME-SERT’s before placing them in critical applications and find excellent results.

Yes Spark plug repair can be done without removing the head by placing a heavy grease on the step tap flutes to catch the chips. TIP: mechanics have mentioned that using a shop vac with a plastic tube taped to the nozzle end works well for removing any stray chips left over.

Yes we have many special lengths of inserts available not listed in our catalog. Please inquire with our order department to see if we have the length you are looking for.

Yes custom lengths can be ordered but a minimum of a 1000 insert quantity will be required. The estimated time of delivery is 4-6 weeks.

What type of spark plug do you have? Washer seat or Taper seat. Washer seat sparkplug's  will have a washer to seal the spark plug against the head. Taper seat spark plugs will have a taper to seal against the head.

Measure from either the spark plug (Washer) or (taper) to the last thread. (Not to the end of the electrode). This will give you the correct length on insert. TIME-SERT inserts cannot be shortened for length. Please refer to our catalog or web site for length of inserts.

The diameter of the spark plug will be the size. The threads or pitch will be a standard for the diameter. Example if the diameter is M14 the standard pitch will be 1.25 or M14x1.25.
If you can provide the spark plug number or make, model, year, liter of vehicle we can give you a part number for the kit and insert required. Use form at the right.
link to: Sparkplug page

This sparkplug has a straight section between the taper seat and threads. sparkplug picture

Ford spark plug Repair kit p/n 5553 to repair blown out sparkplug's.Ford Triton Sparkplug repair kit includes all the tools and 5 inserts.

No, you cannot repair a helicoil with a TIME-SERT. The over-sized line in inserts available is called  BIG-SERT. Please refer to catalog or web page for sizes available. Link: BIG-SERT

Normally if the hole is just stripped out and has never been repaired TIME-SERT will repair that hole. You can also check the drill size from the online TIME-SERT catalog or go to engineering data page, the drill size should be slightly larger than the stripped out hole.

Link: INCH ENGINEERING DATA PAGE

Link: METRIC ENGINEERING DATA PAGE

 If the hole is bigger refer to our Big-Sert line for oversized holes . BIG-SERT information page

No! you cannot cut off the bottom or top of the inserts for these reasons. The top has a flange which give the insert a place to sit for positive placement. The bottom of the insert is the locking portion.

Yes, TIME-SERT inserts use S.T.I taps which are considered special.
S.T.I stands for "Screw Thread Insert" an example would be a TIME-SERT M8x1.25 repair kit would require a M8x1.25 S.T.I tap, this is "larger" than a standard M8x1.25.

S.T.I Basic P.D. = Nominal Thread O.D (Basic Major Dia.) - Basic P.D. + Basic Major Dia.
Example for a "1/2-20" S.T.I tap:
S.T.I "1/2-20" P.D =.500 Dia. - .4675 P.D + .500 = .5325 S.T.I Basic P.D
We use all S.T.I to an H3 limit.
Our taps are made from M2 high speed tool steel.

The Original NorthStar 4.0/4.6 TIME-SERT kit p/n J-42385-500 only has one line on the tooling because it is specifically made for the early Cadillac NorthStar 4.0/4.6 engine block only had one depth of head bolt. This engine block was developed first.

In the year 2000 the North Star block had a change where the lower bank head bolts
were dropped to a deeper depth. Kit p/n J-42385-2000

The NorthStar BIG-SERT kit will repair the 4.0/4.6 along with the NorthStar 2000 block which have a deeper depth on the lower bank of the block. Since the BIG-SERT repair came several years later we decided to consolidate the two. The BIG-SERT kit p/n J-42385-500BS is for blocks that have already been repaired! This is a second oversized repair.

Question: What if i have a NorthStar J-42385-500 kit and want to fix a NorthStar 2000?
Is it possible to do a 2000 repair with my J-42385-500 kit ?
Answer: Yes, this can be done by remarking the tools for the deeper depth on the lower bank of the 2000.
Core Drill: The Core Drill has a positive stop collar, remove the silicone in the set screw and back up the collar starting from the larger cutting diameter (not the tip of drill) back toward the square, this should measure 3.100 inches.
Tap: Mark a line from the cutting edge of tap back toward the square 4.550 inches.
Driver: Mark a line from the front of driver back toward the square 3.550 inches.
Picture of new marking of tools: J-42385-500 to J-42385-2000
Note: Additional bolt length would be required for deep holes on the lower bank of the 2000 blocks. Attachment bolts p/n J-42385-604 quantity 2 would be required to attach the fixture plate to the engine block. The correct kit for the NorthStar 2000 is our p/n J-42385-2000.

Inserts will only screw on the installation driver 1 or 2 threads because the insert driver is a few thousandths larger on the pitch diameter than the tapped hole so it can cold form the last few threads of the insert, locking it in place. This is common on all inserts.

No! Because the oversized drain plug has oversized the hole in the drain pan making it larger, so the insert will not hold properly. The 1485 kit will work by reducing the hole from M14x1.5 to M12x1.5 there is no drilling because the tin pans are to thin and the thread would break out entirely. So no oversized drain plugs in tin pan repair.

Aluminum pan repair:
If the drain pan is aluminum use kit 1415C, it does not matter if there are oversized drain plugs used because we are drilling out the hole to bring it back to its original size. Aluminum pans have enough material to drill out and insert back to the standard M14x1.5.

One possible solution. The hole being repaired has a depth shorter than the length of our shortest insert. There are a few cases where we do not have a short enough insert for a particular application. For example: trying to repair a hole 5/16-18 our shortest length insert is .450 inches and the hole depth is .350 inches deep. You can install a TIME-SERT without using a counterbore. Leaving the shoulder sticking up to remove later on by milling or filing.
One possible suggestion on this type of installation.

1) Drill hole 2) Tap hole 3) let insert set up with locktite.4) install insert.5) file insert flush.

Drill the hole out, "DO NOT" use counterbore tool, tap the hole.
On installation: Screw the insert in the hole with loctite to the desired location. Let the insert set up with the loctite before running the insert driver tool through the insert. The loctite will prevent the insert from going to deep into the prepared hole.
Use the driver tool to expand the last few threads of the inserts.

The insert will now be protruding or sticking up higher in the hole, you will have to "file down" or mill the top of the insert to get the insert flush with the surface. It's recommended to run the insert driver back through the insert to clean any burs at the top of the insert. The repair is complete.

Metric
Printable Metric Bolt size chart.

Printable Metric Thread Pitch Gauge

Inch
Printable Inch Bolt size chart.

Printable Inch Thread Pitch Gauge

Rule -  This is a printable 8” rule for metric and inch.
Fractional/Decimal chart -  Fractional / Decimal chart.
You can also bring the bolt to your local fastener house in your area, they will be able to measure it for you. You will need to know the thread size and pitch of the bolt to repair it.

With out the proper tool removing head alignment dowels can be tricky.
The tool in the link above can be purchased through SPX corp.
(507)-455-7206 p/n PT6575

Possible work around:
Place a suitable bolt that will fit closely into Dowel so that it will not crush.
Use a pair of vise grips to hold on the "outside" of the dowel. Slowly work the dowel back and forth as you use slight pressure under the vise grip with a screw driver to give up lift.
Use care not to scratch the top of block in the process.
Sometimes head alignment dowels will come out easy and sometimes hard depending on tolerances of the block, how much the dowel gets crushed in the process, or rust, etc.
Link to picture of work around.

CLICK HERE: FOR VIDEO LINK TO INSTALL PROCESS
The video example shows the speed in which TIME-SERT inserts can be installed in a blind hole applications using a pneumatic push pull tapper. To our knowledge there is no insert on the market that can be installed faster in a hand volume application where a specific depth is required. The insert in the video is a M10x1.5x14mm.

Link to: Desoutter tools push pull tappers. D16-L 1000 p/n 1274624
You should be able to order through your local Fastenal dealer.
Tool Smith 205 323-2576 http://www.toolsmith.ws/ or Turner supply 251 431-0262

If multiple inserts need to be installed this can also be done using a CNC with a tapmatic reversing head.
Link to: Tapmatic self reversing tapping heads.

We do receive many question regarding Helicoil / Save-A--Thread spark plug insert failure.
Please read link below.

Link to helicoil spark plug failure: