drain plug stripped out, anyone have a better replacment

[SethO]

Does anyone know of of a better replacement, when I change the oil again I am pulling this out. I would like to find one with a better design, wiht bolt instead of a allen head. Or if anyone happens to have an extra or knows a part# to get one locally that would be great. I talked to Len at cowntown about this and got some great info.

 

[fastfraser]

:agree: That has to be one of the toughest hex headed bolt to get out ! I'm always concerned that i will break or strip the bolt trying to remove it. Keep us posted as to what you can find as a replacement.opcorn:opcorn:

 

[BajaRon]

:agree: That has to be one of the toughest hex headed bolt to get out ! I'm always concerned that i will break or strip the bolt trying to remove it. Keep us posted as to what you can find as a replacement.opcorn:opcorn:

You mean the Allen socket is rounded out, not that the threads on the bolt are stipped.

Here is what I've done in the past and it worked great.

1-Get a nut of the correct size (usually as big as you can go and still be no bigger than the bolt head. This is not critical but I'd use metric because everything else on the Spyder is metric.

2-Take coarse sandpaper or something abrasive and abraid both the bolt head and one side of the nut. If you think there will be a lot of torque put on this I also notch a shallow X in the nut and bolt (if there is room) with a hack saw. They don't have to match up.

3-Clean both surfaces well with carb cleaner or some similar product that will remove all oil and leave no residue

4-Get some JB Weld and glue the nut to the bolt head. I prefer the 24 hour stuff because it gives a better bond. But the quick set stuff usually works well enough.

5-Make sure the nut is centered on the bolt head. Let it set up at least as long as the instructions call for, and you've got it.

The oil drain plug should not be really tight anyway so this is a perfect application.

I don't like the Allen head feature either. If they were going to use an Allen head they should have made it a larger size.

 

[boborgera]

Does anyone know of of a better replacement, when I change the oil again I am pulling this out. I would like to find one with a better design, wiht bolt instead of a allen head. Or if anyone happens to have an extra or knows a part# to get one locally that would be great. I talked to Len at cowntown about this and got some great info.

Autozone / Napa etc sell drain plug repair bolts,
Basely it a harden steal oversize bolt that as you screw it in it makes new threads. I've used them a few times over the years they work and it's a permanent fix. :2thumbs:

 

[Justin]

Autozone / Napa etc sell drain plug repair bolts,
Basely it a harden steal oversize bolt that as you screw it in it makes new threads. I've used them a few times over the years they work and it's a permanent fix. :2thumbs:

 

[BajaRon]

Personally, I hate these. The drain hole is so small it takes forever to drain and you don't get the good flow/rush that gets the foreign material out.

I understand that this is a fix for stripped case threads but clear this up for me. Are we talking stripped case threads or a rounded out Allen hole? :dontknow:

 

[Firefly]

Which oil drain plug? Don't you have 3 on the SE5?

I have extras for the oil tank and engine crankcase--- let me know if you want me to send them your way.

I think the SE5 has 1 more drain plug that is for the auto-clutch.

 

[SethO]

I am talking about the drain plug in the crank case, and the allen head is the one that is stripped out, i could get it out but want a real one to replace it.

Dan I will send you a pm

 

[krb1945]

First BajaRon nice job on that substitute drain plug.

Most of the new vehicles have a drain plug that you can put a socket of box end wrench on. They all have a metal gasket machined surface because now-a-days everyone uses a copper or aluminum seal gasket. Take your stripped out hex head to a autoparts store and see what they can match up for you. It is in you best interest to get one that has a magnet to pull the small metal particles from the oil.

Also a big farm tractor or tractor supply probably has exactly what you are looking for since most equipment is going metric in recent years. You'll be surprised at some of the good stuff you find there.

Since the first oil change we've had no trouble getting the plugs out because we use a torque wrench to install them.

I have attached some numbers that may help many.Ken krb1945 For some reason I can't get the numbers to attach this morning... must still be a sleep. I'll try again on the next post. Ken Well still won't attach documents.... will try again later when the system has completed updating. Ken

 

[boborgera]

Personally, I hate these. The drain hole is so small it takes forever to drain and you don't get the good flow/rush that gets the foreign material out.
:dontknow:

:dontknow:
That's not the bolt i mean, The one i've used in the past are one piece, they screw in and out like a regular drain plug.

 

[BajaRon]

First BajaRon nice job on that substitute drain plug.

Most of the new vehicles have a drain plug that you can put a socket of box end wrench on. They all have a metal gasket machined surface because now-a-days everyone uses a copper or aluminum seal gasket. Take your stripped out hex head to a autoparts store and see what they can match up for you. It is in you best interest to get one that has a magnet to pull the small metal particles from the oil.

Also a big farm tractor or tractor supply probably has exactly what you are looking for since most equipment is going metric in recent years. You'll be surprised at some of the good stuff you find there.

Since the first oil change we've had no trouble getting the plugs out because we use a torque wrench to install them.

I have attached some numbers that may help many.Ken krb1945 For some reason I can't get the numbers to attach this morning... must still be a sleep. I'll try again on the next post. Ken Well still won't attach documents.... will try again later when the system has completed updating. Ken

Good advise. I haven't felt good about those Allen heads from the 1st time I changed oil.

And yes, the SE's have a 3rd drain plug for the transmission filter. But I'm hearing that many either don't know about it or don't drain it even if they do. This one has an O-Ring behind it instead of a copper washer.

 

[BajaRon]

:dontknow:
That's not the bolt i mean, The one i've used in the past are one piece, they screw in and out like a regular drain plug.

:agree: The one you describe is a better option for stripped threads than the plug in a plug pictured.

 

[woodchuck]

Striped allen head

Does anyone know of of a better replacement, when I change the oil again I am pulling this out. I would like to find one with a better design, wiht bolt instead of a allen head. Or if anyone happens to have an extra or knows a part# to get one locally that would be great. I talked to Len at cowntown about this and got some great info.

:gaah:

All I did was grind off a small pice from the allen wrench, clean it up and weld it in place into the allen head. then when you want to change oil all you need is a socket to fit the allen wrench piece that is welded in place.

 

[Firefly]

I am talking about the drain plug in the crank case, and the allen head is the one that is stripped out, i could get it out but want a real one to replace it.

Dan I will send you a pm

You should get your crankcase oil drain plug and washer via UPS on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

I use hex sockets that fit a 1/2" ratchet....will come right out that way.

If the hex is stripped that bad-- you might have to take an extra TORX bit and pound it into the hex hole--- then it should grip and you can get it out.

 

[Big Arm]

After I changed my y gaskets tonight, I decided to do the oil change. So while the oil is draining, I headed to the local shops to see if I could find a hex bolt drain plug for the crankcase and the oil reservoir. I took both drain plugs with me. The crankcase drain plug is a 12mm with 1.5 pitch. This bolt I found at Menards. The oil reservoir bolt is a 14mm with 1.5 pitch, This drain plug I found at Advance Auto, which also had the magnet. (I'll keep looking later for a magnetic 12mm now that I know the size). I did use the copper washer on the 12mm crankcase bolt, but used the plastic washer that came with the 14mm, only since the head was so large. Anyway, we'll see how these hold, and I'll let you know if I have any problems. I know I won't have any problems removing them when the time comes.:yes:

 

[SethO]

Dan thanks man, I owe you a few beers at least.


Larry that is awsome keep us posted on how they hold up with the plastic washers, that is the way I will go for sure next time, if you find a 12mm with a magnet that would be cool as well.

 

[boborgera]

After I changed my y gaskets tonight, I decided to do the oil change. So while the oil is draining, I headed to the local shops to see if I could find a hex bolt drain plug for the crankcase and the oil reservoir. I took both drain plugs with me. The crankcase drain plug is a 12mm with 1.5 pitch. This bolt I found at Menards. The oil reservoir bolt is a 14mm with 1.5 pitch, This drain plug I found at Advance Auto, which also had the magnet. (I'll keep looking later for a magnetic 12mm now that I know the size). I did use the copper washer on the 12mm crankcase bolt, but used the plastic washer that came with the 14mm, only since the head was so large. Anyway, we'll see how these hold, and I'll let you know if I have any problems. I know I won't have any problems removing them when the time comes.:yes:

Them's the ones,:2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

An Internet search showed this company, and several others that had metric, magnetic drain plugs...even oversized ones.

 

[Firefly]

I would make sure you're using a magnetic one in the engine crankcase!

 

[Rando]

Crankcase: MP-01
http://www.goldplug.com/Motorcycle_Drain_Plugs/MP01.html

Oil reservoir: MP-02
http://www.goldplug.com/Motorcycle_Drain_Plugs/MP02.html