Motorcycle Repair: engine hanger CL72-CL77

Question
Hello I wonder if Honda changed the upper engine hanger bracket tube collar from threaded holes for two 8x16 hex bolts to one long through bolt. I had to replace the short tube because of damage and we used a straight donor tube from a CL77. We discovered after the installation that the holes were not tapped on either side of the tube's collar. The original bolts from the CL72 just spin in the openings. If this is a design change then that's fine I'll just start looking for the correct bolt. If its something else then I guess we will have to remove the replacement tube and find one that is factory tapped. SOB I hope that is not the case. Spent lettuce squaring & truing this frame  Thank You for Listening Bob 4/11/2015.

Answer
Bob,

It is not uncommon for the two threaded bolt holes to become stripped out and putting a heli-coil in that location might be challenging. The "easy" way to deal with that is to just drill out the holes all the way through and use a long bolt. So unfortunately you may have installed a damaged part. You might try going to some short 10mm bolts as oversize, trying to use a thread repair on the existing holes, weld up the holes and start over or find a better frame piece to use.... or just use a longer through-bolt and be done with it. It is tough to repair short, blind-hole threads.

Bill Silver