B7200 loader mount issue/need help!

[Work Horse]

Hey guys, I tried posting this on one of my old threads with no luck so far and am in need of some help asap. The main question..

Does anyone know if it's safe for me to bore/tap the block of the engine where the engine support bolts/loader brackets are? The threads are junked out. Stock they are M-10 1.25 and I'm looking to go up to M-12, does anyone happen to know how wide the block is.. am I flirting with disaster or should I just weld the loader brackets onto the frame without bolts? I'd rather not do this in case I need to split the tractor in the future but I'm in a pickle. Thanks!

 

[Roadworthy]

I can't answer your question but another option may be to consider a Helicoil. You still need to overbore a little bit but after threading in the coil you can use the original size bolt.

 

[Work Horse]

I can't answer your question but another option may be to consider a Helicoil. You still need to overbore a little bit but after threading in the coil you can use the original size bolt.

Hadn't thought of that, or used one before.. is there any chance of them coming out? I assume you would punch them in?

 

[Work Horse]

What I might do in the meantime is tap the frame portion and not the block itself. Only issue might be that the threads don't go deep enough for a good solid foundation.

What I think happened is the bolts walked out because there was play around the bolts due to the bracket holes being too wide.. and with the brackets slightly swaying front to rear the bolts came out and F'd the threads.

 

[N3BP]

There appears to be enough "meat" in the block to punch out two additional mm.

 

[Work Horse]

There appears to be enough "meat" in the block to punch out two additional mm.

Oh awesome, thanks for the picture! Yea looks like there's plenty of room, didn't realize the block protruded like that for the mounting process. I would assume the protruding part is solid metal which would be great.

 

[Work Horse]

Just went and tapped them out. Worked perfectly!!! Thank you very much, I really appreciate it!

 

[N3BP]

Glad to hear it worked out. Enjoy that 7200. They are great machines.

 

[Work Horse]

Glad to hear it worked out. Enjoy that 7200. They are great machines.

I love this little tractor. It's given me some hell with all the work I've put into it already, but it works just as hard and went through a lot of abuse before I got it and went through everything. Just got the loader re-mounted, going to do some welding of the brackets tomorrow and then I should be set. I got one hydraulic leak to fix (hopefully tomorrow) and a tach cable to replace, and that's it! I got another thread open for the loader install and will post pics when it's all done. Again, appreciate the help. I really didn't wanna go tapping into the block "blind," so that was huge.