Chrysler Repair: kickdown band adjustment...stripped threads!, plymouth neon, pb blaster

Question
i recently purchased a 2000 Plymouth neon --2.0 L ,automatic , with 117k. i immediately began a major tune up . after changing my trans fluid and filter, i began the procedure to adjust the kickdown band. there is a locknut and a screw/bolt. i followed the instructions in haynes/ chilton. i loosened the locknut and the screw was supposed to turn freely. the screw was a little tight so i removed the locknut and sprayed the threads with pb blaster.the next step was my downfall... i did not replace the locknut, and i proceeded to tighten the adjusting screw. the book says 72 inch pounds which i misunderstood as foot pounds...as i approached 40 foot lbs , the screw became looser again. i now realize i was only supposed to tighten to 6 foot pounds. now the screw does not get tight until it is recessed into the transmission.. even then it does not reach 6 foot pounds.. what have i done? i hope its not major.. how can i correct this ? the screw is barely hand tight.. any help is greatly appreciated

Answer
Hi Lisa,
You have, in the vernacular, "stripped the threads" on the hole.
I would investigate at a trade tool supply house as to whether there is a "save-a-thread" insert kit, like the ones that are used when the threads for a spark plug hole in the cylinder head are compromised,which would be available for the size and thread of the screw that you are working with. Bring the screw with you. The kit consists of a tap that you twist into the hole that will cut the next larger diameter hole with new threads, a cylindrical insert which has that larger diameter and thread on its outside while its inside has the original threads and diameter of the screw. You then screw in this insert until it is flush (may be sealing it in place with some epoxy on the threads) and voila you have restored the hole and threads. Such an approach will handle torques of up to 20 foot pounds needed for spark plugs so it should handle your 6 pound requirement.
The other less expensive approach would be to use a new tempered screw with the next slightly larger diameter than the old one, and ideally with tapered threads which might also be designed with a slot so as to cut its own threads in the damaged hole. At a torque requirement of only 6, I don't believe it would be too hard to re-establish some sort of thread by either of those methods.
Let me know how it works out for you.
Roland