Looking For Machine Shop With Large Tap & Dye

[illz]

I have no idea where to start my search, so I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. I have a set of RH Evo wheels that have an aluminum center cap. The center cap has 2 alan-head screws that are concealed by a large aluminum nut, which screws onto some aluminum threading, 2" in diameter. A long time ago, Isaac, that dirty Elite bastard , cross-threaded one of the center caps and nuts. RacingHart distributors want $90 for the center cap assembly, and I don't want to give it to them.

Does anyone know where or what machine shop might have a 2" diameter tap and dye to rethread the center cap and nut? JET do you have any ideas?

Any help is appreciated, I have no problem spending an hour or two on the phone calling around, but I don't know where to start.

Thanks in advance

[sideways motorsports]

Try calling a place that does hydraulics like Hydraulic specialties located in Fridley.

Good luck,
Dan

[JET]

Something that big is going to be CNC'd on a lathe. They won't be using a tap and die. I would just fork over the $90. It will be a lot more to get it done as a one off custom job. If we had a CNC I would do it for cheaper, but we don't have one YET. There is some talk about it though.

[illz]

Originally posted by JET@May 20 2004, 04:20 PM
Something that big is going to be CNC'd on a lathe. They won't be using a tap and die. I would just fork over the $90. It will be a lot more to get it done as a one off custom job. If we had a CNC I would do it for cheaper, but we don't have one YET. There is some talk about it though.

bastards!

[illz]

JET - Help! Can you give me some shop names or even 1 knowledgable shop name to call and start investigating how to get this done? I spoke with DAZZ, the US importer for RacingHart wheels, and they can no longer get the older style, larger center caps and nuts. So I'm back to fixing the threading on this one. Please help! Any info on what type of shops to call, if plumbing shops might have taps and dyes this big for their big piping, any info at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks man!

[1ViciousGSX]

How bad is it? If the threads are only slightly crossed you can get a thread file and fix it.

[JET]

Yeah, why don't you give me the old cap and I will see if I can fix it. That would be the easiest way, by far. Pretty much any machine shop would be able to do it. Try to find one that does prototype stuff. Wagamon's would probably do it pretty cheap.

[illz]

great, I will stop by Wagamon's tomorrow and see what they can do, assuming they are open a bit on Saturdays. Thanks for the lead JET, I'll take a closer look at the pieces tonight (it's been quite awhile since I've examined them) and see if it looks remotely salvagable by filing.

[illz]

hrm. no love at Wagamon. I'll go look for thread files i guess. Home Depot? Sears?

[john]

Try a wheel repair shop. I believe there is a precision wheel shop here in Hopkins somewhere by Hopkins Auto Body.

[Raptor]

If you want to call the shop, I know several decent machine shops that could do this for you. Like JET mentioned, it shouldn't be that difficult for a decent shop with a CNC to do, but you may have to wait a week or two and pay more than you expect. The lead time on a few of the shops we deal with averages about a week to two. Most of the good machine shops are that busy. If they aren't, you might want to think twice before trusting them.