"Jim Wilkins" wrote in message ...

wrote ...

No luck in fumbling thru with it. I tried to twist the insert to
reduce the OD, I tried to deform the end of the insert to make it
undersize, I tried to install the insert backwards, I threaded the
insert on a short 1/4-28 SHCS to use as an install tool. Looking
in
the McMaster catalog, I see that the installation tool for the
1/4-28
is a winder style to reduce the OD of the insert for $32+. For
those
of you who use these regularily and know what you are doing -
advice
please. Obviously, I am not overly interested in spending more
money
to install one insert.

How about a 3/16" dowel with a saw slot across the end?

Or the equivalent made of metal, if you can.



Usually I'll simply grind a "notch" into a mating bolt that engages the helicoil tang , with sort of "sloped facet" so that the tang doesn't snag and end up backing the helicoilout out when the bolt is withdrawn....

That said, most auto part supply stores will have a reasonably priced plastic insertion tool available that should work just fine so long as you're not installing thread inserts by the dozens, and so if I was heading to town to buy some helicoils anyways well then perhaps...