Originally Posted by moxfyre
Thanks for all the tips! I am curious about helicoils because I have some derailer threads that will need 'em in a few thousand more miles probably.
But my favorite LBS says they have a 175 mm left for $15, that should do the trick for my friend's bike.
For future reference, bikeman.com sells helicoils:
http://www.bikemannetwork.com/biking/c/TLSLUBETOOLTHRD
It appears that a special, expensive tool is required to insert them. Is that correct, or is there a clumsy-but-works-okay way to do it? I'm thinking something like a ghetto headset press... would it be possible to use such an apparatus to press in a helicoil?
Once you get the proper thread cut, the larger coils can be installed with a needle nose pliers in a crank arm because of the large diameter and you have access to the other side of the hole.