Thread chaser

[buddylee1998]

Hi all. I am a DIY home mechanic. I damaged some hard to access threads on my motorcycle and was told by a friend I should be able to use a thread chaser to clean them up. My question to you guys is what brand should I buy. I don't need snap on quality but I don't want junk Chinese either. From what I found googling it seems craftsman may be the way to go. Just in case it matters this specific bolt is a 5/16-24

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[BigSteve63]

Lang/Kastar/Craftsman/SnapOn - all the same manufacturer. paid about $55 for the set I have. Autozone will loan you one if only needed the one time.

Good luck with the repair!

 

[Cope]

Agree with BigSteve63, but there are two different sets by Lang, and you may as well get the larger set because it has more metric sizes.

 

[petee_c]

I bought Lang metric ones, only used it one time. I heard that you aren't supposed to use tap /dies to fix threads. Dunno why. Maybe breakage?

I have used tap /die to repair threads

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[6PTsocket]

I bought Lang metric ones, only used it one time. I heard that you aren't supposed to use tap /dies to fix threads. Dunno why. Maybe breakage?

I have used tap /die to repair threads

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The reason is that any deformed thread is cut away by a cutting tap or die. After you use it you will probably see chips on the tap/die. You have lost thread. The chaser is not sharp. It is a hardened thread with flutes to collect dirt and and any metal that is too far gone to straighten. It pushes the thread back in line, not cut it away.

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[petee_c]

6pt,thanks makes sense

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[ken w.]

I had the Snap On one until someone stole it at work. I then bought the Craftsman one. Identical sets. They work good.

 

[shawhite]

Rethreading dies/thread chasers are great assuming you have good threads to start them on. If you buggered up the first threads and can't run the die on from the back of the bolt it will not fix the tread. In this case you will need a split rethreading die. https://www.jmeinnovations.com

 

[Rickss96]

Rethreading dies/thread chasers are great assuming you have good threads to start them on. If you buggered up the first threads and can't run the die on from the back of the bolt it will not fix the tread. In this case you will need a split rethreading die. https://www.jmeinnovations.com

Thanks for the info - I learned something today! Didn't know these existed.
Too bad they don't make a "split tap", about half the time I've needed a tap

 

[6PTsocket]

I had the Snap On one until someone stole it at work. I then bought the Craftsman one. Identical sets. They work good.

Lang, formerly Kastar makes the vast bulk of the rethreading taps and dies for everyone. They come in various size sets. It all comes down to price

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[6PTsocket]

It is quite easy to make your own rethreading tap. Take a hardened bolt, grade 8 or metric class 9 and cut some flutes with a cut off wheel. Done.

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[rlitman]

I had the Snap On one until someone stole it at work. I then bought the Craftsman one. Identical sets. They work good.

Just to clarify one thing here. The warranty on these sets is handled by who you bought them from (i.e. what name is on the label). You'll pay more for a Snap On set, but they have a lifetime warranty, whereas the one with other names on them do not.

I have two sets of Snap On rethreading dies (one NC, and one NF) that I've put to good use, as well as Snap On branded rethreading files (all of these are Lang/Kastar) and some General rethreading files too (not sure who makes these). I don't have the full set with the taps, but to be fair, I hardly have the occasion to use a rethreading tap anyway.

Having all this, if the damage is only to the first thread or two on a non-critical bolt, I'll usually just fix it with a triangle file.

It is quite easy to make your own rethreading tap. Take a hardened bolt, grade 8 or metric class 9 and cut some flutes with a cut off wheel. Done.

Exactly. And that's why I haven't really had the motivation to pick up the master set.
Making your own rethreading die however is not so easy, and the flutes do a great job at removing corrosion and debris.

Now that I think of it, I do have a sparkplug hole cleaner tap if that counts.

 

[Finky198]

In the field I've made that bolt trick work but it's not something I'd bet my money on...

Their are NES thread tools but they and those Split dies ^^^ can get very expensive ...

I'd start as many have said with the Craftsman rethreader set and build from their as you need them. If you just want the one size you need, call Snap on and just order it their only a couple of bucks a piece...

 

[ihateminimumwage]

It is quite easy to make your own rethreading tap. Take a hardened bolt, grade 8 or metric class 9 and cut some flutes with a cut off wheel. Done.

I've had to do that a couple of times with home projects, ended up buying a second Craftsman set to keep at home, and use the hell out of it between older vehicles and bikes just cleaning dirt out chasing threads.

...If you just want the one size you need, call Snap on and just order it their only a couple of bucks a piece...

Thanks for posting this. I didn't know there were additional sizes offered as singles. I've had a few times I've needed larger sizes than are in the kit.

 

[Finky198]

They are all sold as singles not just the larger sizes.

You just order them as replacement parts...

 

[Stevenn1]

....Too bad they don't make a "split tap", about half the time I've needed a tap

http://www.chaseembacktools.com/

 

[Stevenn1]

Snap-on RTD48
Lang KAS972
Craftsman 42275

The Snap-on/Craftsman is labeled as 48-piece, while the Lang/K-Star is labeled as a 40-piece. The "Snap-on" kit replacement parts are labeled as Blue-Point:

https://store.snapon.com/U-S-Metric...ster-Rethreading-Tap-and-Die-Set-P641094.aspx

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Snap-on RTD48
Lang KAS972
Craftsman 42275

The Snap-on/Craftsman is labeled as 48-piece, while the Lang/K-Star is labeled as a 40-piece. The "Snap-on" kit replacement parts are labeled as Blue-Point:

https://store.snapon.com/U-S-Metric...ster-Rethreading-Tap-and-Die-Set-P641094.aspx

Two different kits.

40pc Master Rethreading Kit - Kastar 972, Craftsman 52105, Snap-on RTD40, MAC TRCOMBO
48pc Master Rethreading Kit - Kastar 971, Craftsman 42275, Snap-on RTD48, MAC TRCOMBO-48

 

[6PTsocket]

They are all sold as singles not just the larger sizes.

You just order them as replacement parts...

Surprisingly one of the easiest places to buy singles is Snap On. They ship free to anybody with no minimum. Even if the price of a kit is higher than other sources, with free shipping it works out really cheap for singles. I paid $2 and change, delivered, for a 12 mm chaser tap.

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[Finky198]

^^^ Thanks for expanding on that. ^^^

 

[earlthegoat2]

Ive buggered my fair share of "rethreading" tools. In my eyes they are not reliable. I know they are the proper tool for the job most times but for my money, I just use taps and dies. I ****** the occasional thread up but I've done that less times than I have buggered up rethreading tools.

The majority of the time it has been those very Kastar sets that wont work.

 

[T45]

Surprisingly one of the easiest places to buy singles is Snap On. They ship free to anybody with no minimum. Even if the price of a kit is higher than other sources, with free shipping it works out really cheap for singles. I paid $2 and change, delivered, for a 12 mm chaser tap.

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Good idea--i can see buying a couple in sizes like 1/4 and m6 and just keeping them in the portable box. Then, there is no need to fetch or carry around more than you need. That minimalism is sometimes useful.

 

[Finky198]

Earl...

Patience is the key when working on stuff like this... you cant undo a cut. As said before the tools are not perfect A reg file is the simplest tool avail then the Lang thread set which is still pretty basic and will only do so much. The right tool for the job is only as good as the users skills. but more important is knowledge to prevent the damage in the first place.....

The 5 P'S

 

[6PTsocket]

Earl...

Patience is the key when working on stuff like this... you cant undo a cut. As said before the tools are not perfect A reg file is the simplest tool avail then the Lang thread set which is still pretty basic and will only do so much. The right tool for the job is only as good as the users skills. but more important is knowledge to prevent the damage in the first place.....

The 5 P'S

People also use chasers to clean out dirty threads before installing the bolt. No goof involved.

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[Finky198]

I do that all the time, the chance of damage to the tool are slim when used correctly...
I use That 48pc set daily in the shop mutiple times a day at that. I've had 2 failure both due to excessive ware never misuse.

Im sorry Imho its no different then someone who breaks taps or cutoff wheels constantly...

 

[earlthegoat2]

Maybe....

 

[buddylee1998]

Ive buggered my fair share of "rethreading" tools. In my eyes they are not reliable. I know they are the proper tool for the job most times but for my money, I just use taps and dies. I ****** the occasional thread up but I've done that less times than I have buggered up rethreading tools.

The majority of the time it has been those very Kastar sets that wont work.

I would use a tap and die but it will not fit in the confined space I have. A thread chaser may not either (I have never used one) but a friend said it should.

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[cherrybomb]

I'm a firm believer in observing how difficult it was in removing a bolt,inspect the parts ,a thread restorer can be the best option on the parts.Don't force start threaded items,especially the ones that have some alignment issues. Taps cut new threads but you have to be a little more careful than using a restorer when you just want to clean a bit of threads up.