Craftsman 40 Piece Master Rethreader Kit

I'm a tool nut, and I had never heard of a rethreader. With modern bikes getting lighter and parts getting thinner, I keep metric taps handy to finesse messed-up threads. I even stock common sizes in my track box. But some boogered threads in a crank nut sent me searching for an odd size. Not one of the tool outlets I tried had the size. Finally, while searching the tap and die aisle at Sears, I came across this $49.95 rethreading set. The tools look nothing like taps or dies, and they aren't made to be installed in a handle. You simply use a wrench or a socket and insert the bits into the damaged part. So far the rethreading bits have done an amazing job on every thread repair I've tried. It doesn't matter whether you're tackling a nut, blind hole or a bolt; the threads clean up fast and easy. The kit also includes a set of thread files, but I haven't found a need for them yet. In addition to metric there are standard sizes in national fine and national coarse. I don't have much use for the American sizes, but it comes with the set. These won't thread a blank hole, but let's face it, most of the time we're doing thread repair on a dirt bike, so I prefer to rethread rather than remake threads. -Karel Kramer