Breaking flexplate bolts

[Bobby J]

I have a triker friend that converted to an auto-stick, he keeps breaking the flexplate where the bolts attach, he has broken two now. Any Suggestions?  Thanks Bobby

[68AutoBug]

Hi,
I've never heard of anyone breaking a flexplate.
Does Your friend have a large Engine or Twin Carbs etc..?
I have heard that the AutoStick will take a larger than 1600 but I can't remember how Big... Maybe 1834 or 1916cc??
I know that the Trikes in Australia usually have manual gearboxes with 1st gear locked out, so they don't wheel stand... all the time..
The only problem I've had, is a flexplate Nut coming loose while i was doing it up...
so, I couldn't do it up or undo the bolt...
used My angle grinder to take the bolt off... with the engine out....

Lee  - 68AutoBug -- Australia --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[bigpapa]

Do you mean that the flexplate cracks on the outside of the hole where the nut is? My plate is cracked on all 4 holes and all the nuts fell out. I bought 8mm jam nuts that are thinner than regular nuts and fit perfectly. I removed the flex plate and installed 10mm long button head cap screws to hold it to the torque converter and then welded the nuts in place.

[68AutoBug]

Hi,
My Nut just came loose..
the reason....:
I had used the very strong locktite on the bolts threads last time
and the loctite had clogged the nut thread up..
I should have put a tap thru the nuts...
I will next time...
I have a replacement flexplate, but I'll get My Son to weld
all 4 nuts to the old flexplate so they will never come loose again...
this time I only used the loctite on the last couple of threads of the
bolts.... on the replacement flexplate...
I don't know why the flexplate would crack around the nuts...?

Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[johnr]

I had a problem similar with locktite.  I bought 4 new bolts and one refused to thread in the nut.  I took one of the old bolts and cut four slots down  the length of it with a dremel tool.  This made a great tap to clean out the threads.  Luckily I checked the bolts before replacing the engine!

[68AutoBug]

I wish i had done that Johnr....
but I'm learning....
there isn't much left to go wrong....    
I've done most of them,.....  
I just hope I'll remember them all....
although once everything is correct and running right...
the auto sticks are very good....

We just have to remember how old they are.....   :?:
and keep collecting spare parts for them...

Lee -- 68AutoBug -- Australia --

http://community.webshots.com/user/vw68autobug

[johnr]

sometime I'll tell you about all my screw-ups!  Like the time I tightened the 4 flex-bolts nice & snug but not TOO tight.  I'll bet you can guess what happened!  There I sat by the side of the road with my engine running as sweet as could be, and not going anywhere!  

Luckily,  the foreign car garage in Coos Bay had a used flex plate as the old one was destroyed.  Also the loosened bolts machined a nice groove in the bell housing before they left.