Snap-On customer Kevin Moss, who has been a self employed thread repair specialist to customers in the motor trade for ten years in Manchester and the North West, was one of the first people to test a new thread repair kit from Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS) based on its Recoil branded product. "The lambda sensor measures the weakness or richness of exhaust gases and through a vehicle's computer automatically adjusts the mixture to keep it constant," says Mr Moss. "It is often difficult to remove when old or worn out. Before this kit was available sometimes whole new exhausts needed to be replaced because the high temperatures involved fused the sensor's connection and when it required replacement, removal often tore the screw thread. However, using the tap to create new thread followed by a permanently anchored insert, sensors may now be fitted and removed as needs be."
With a retail book price of £69.00 and a twelve month guarantee on the product Mike Armistead, UK sales manager at AFS for the Recoil brand said: "This is a useful kit which can save time and money and we're very grateful to Snap-On for partnering the initial trial period. The lambda sensor only has a short thread engagement area and the bottoming tap and inserts are designed to accommodate this. In addition, inserts are made from high temperature resistant inconel which extends the product life by working in temperatures of up to 1,200degF."