cam cover bolt problem

[LHD_Kid]

Just been sorting through the seemingly endless list of things to do on my car, when after cleaning off the engine block to find oil leaks I have found that one of the cam cover bolts is spinning round.
oil is weeping from the front corner (turbo side) and the corner cannot be screwed down because you can lift the bolt out with your fingers, Seems the thread from the head is still on the bolt as the thread is 'full'.
Is there a quick fix for this? or do I need to take the cover off and get something more serious done?
Thanks for any advice.
Chris
(ps, as you may be aware, I am not a mechanic, but can just about get by if told)

[s2avant]

I had the same problem with mine. One of the bolts had snapped.

It's a cam cover off job though. On mine the bolt had snapped quite high up and there was 5-6mm of thread sticking out of the head once the cam cover was removed. I got it out with a pair of grips.

If it's snapped off flush with the head then it will be a lot more difficult to remove.

Ben

[LHD_Kid]

Hmmm....
my bolt has not snapped, it has stripped the thread in the head... can you get replacement threads or something to push into holes? I remember something like this had to be done on my bike... (I didn't do it, a proper mechanic did, so I don't know what is involved...)
Chris

[sacs2]

You need to go to the same guy that did your bike m8,he will fit a helicoil insert in there for you. They are great things, he will drill the hole out over sized re-tap it with the special helicoil tap and then screw an insert spring in there which reduces the thread back down the the required size.

They are alot stronght that the original aluminium thread too so if you want to get them all done at the same time? just a thought.

Hope you sort it out tho.

Nice bike by the way