Changing out thermostat

I started changing out the thermostat on my 740, unfortunately the retaining nuts would not budge. The nuts started stripping, hence it was not a good day. Well I happened to remeber that craftsman put out a special socket set that will grip stiped nuts and remove them. Uh it didn't work, the nuts were so soft it continually chewed them up ( you should be laughing your head off right now). Long story short i ended up chiselling the nuts off (I gotta find a better word than "Nuts") I got it off with some damged to the threads. I was able to salvage one set of threads on one stud however the other stud barely has any thead left. Does anyone how if I can buy replacement studs for the thermostat housing? My other alternative is to rethread the stud at a different size. What do you think?

 

there's a tool that allows you to insert new threads into the larger hole that you need to make. i totally forgot what's the name is, but you re-drill the hole to a bigger size and screw in those new threads, look like springs. any automotive store should have them in assortment.

next time, do 2 things: make sure that socket fits SNUG, with no play, or use box wrench, never a spanner, those are notorious to strip bolt heads; and if in question of stripping a bolt head, they have Quickwrench for it. 20 minutes of soaking will save you few hrs of what you have to do now.

goodluck, been in your shoes. btw, self-tightening sockets are sold at sears, "grip-tite", some 20 bucks for a comprehensive set.

 

Heli-coil is the trademark name. Additional tip: Using a 6 pt socket vs 12 pt will also reduce stripping.