Author Topic: oil drain plug - stuck ! (Read 15266 times)

Enceladus · « **on:** 03 June 2012, 03:31:41 pm »

any tips on how to get the oil drain plug out ?
mine is really stuck in fast !
got a magnetic one to replace it with but need to change the oil and filter first !

mcyoungy · « **Reply #1 on:** 03 June 2012, 07:02:56 pm »

they're not normally *that* tight.

are you sure it's the drain plug you're attacking?

you are trying to undo it? it's easy to go the wrong direction working upside down.

Enceladus · « **Reply #2 on:** 03 June 2012, 07:07:34 pm »

it's the 17mm nut right by the side stand
just behind part of the frame where you can't get a socket in
hope thats the right one.
tried "cracking" it (tighten to loosen) and just undoing it but no joy so far.
might try and get the engine nice and warm, then spraying a small amount of water on the plug to shrink it fractionally.
any suggestions ?

born to be mild · « **Reply #3 on:** 03 June 2012, 07:46:52 pm »

Thats the one, personally Im always dubious about tightening to un-tighten, especially in alloy. Arm yourself with a four pound lump hammer and give it a clout with that, you wont need to really belt it. Thats how I do mine. Oh and have a bloody big drip tray, the stupid location of the plug means the old oil doesnt go where you want it to go.
PS: that a clever idea about the cold water, it hadnt occurred to me but then a lot of things dont

JZS 600 · « **Reply #4 on:** 03 June 2012, 07:50:28 pm »

couple of sharp taps with a mallet on the spanner normally does it but I won't be responsible for stripped thread!

Enceladus · « **Reply #5 on:** 03 June 2012, 08:07:33 pm »

thanks guys

just to confirm.......
looking at the nut, i need to turn it anti-clockwise to undo.
right ?
(half asleep at the mo for some reason!)

mcyoungy · « **Reply #6 on:** 03 June 2012, 08:24:57 pm »

that's correct. righty tighty, lefty loosey.

Enceladus · « **Reply #7 on:** 03 June 2012, 08:34:46 pm »

Quote from: mcyoungy on 03 June 2012, 08:24:57 pm

that's correct. righty tighty, lefty loosey.

thanks
thats a good way to remember it !
i'll try and remember that one!

His Dudeness · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 June 2012, 09:46:57 pm »

you might want to quit while yer ahead and let a mechanic do it

Enceladus · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 June 2012, 10:12:16 pm »

Quote from: His Dudeness on 03 June 2012, 09:46:57 pm

you might want to quit while yer ahead and let a mechanic do it

nah
done an engine change on a combine harvester before with pallets, pallet truck, scaffolding pole and lots of swearing so i'm sure i can make this work

CRH · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 June 2012, 10:27:45 pm »

think most of us on here!...would have used...spanners and sockets???

.....

Enceladus · « **Reply #11 on:** 03 June 2012, 10:33:13 pm »

Quote from: CRH on 03 June 2012, 10:27:45 pm

think most of us on here!...would have used...spanners and sockets??? .....

that was the easy bit!

CRH · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 June 2012, 10:40:17 pm »

just hope the last person who had it didnt cross thread the bstd when they tightened it up???????????

CRH · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 June 2012, 10:48:09 pm »

the best way imo to change your oil (if you ever get plug out)...

....woul be to stand your bike on side stand (inside a old wash bowl) and after oil drained just wipe off stand and you away?? no oil on floor!!! job a gud un??

Enceladus · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 June 2012, 10:49:12 pm »

Quote from: CRH on 03 June 2012, 10:40:17 pm

just hope the last person who had it didnt cross thread the bstd when they tightened it up???????????

i'm hoping that as well
got my tap set on standby just in case !

Dead Eye · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 June 2012, 09:28:17 am »

Quote from: born to be mild on 03 June 2012, 07:46:52 pm

Oh and have a bloody big drip tray, the stupid location of the plug means the old oil doesnt go where you want it to go.

I found this out the hard way, the tray I had wasn't quite in the right position (damn stand was in the way) and it overflowed the sides and went bloody everywhere. Pretty sure only half the engine oil was caught in the tray... I spent the next 20 mins using sawdust to clean up the oil that was all over the driveway. Next time - BIG ASS BUCKET! :P

Dave48 · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 June 2012, 10:01:58 am »

More people mistakenly overtighten fasteners "just to be on the safe side" than undertighten. Best to beg/borrow/steal a torque wrench particularly tightening steel into alloy. Mistakes can prove expensive. Please dont use agricultural techniques!

darrsi · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 June 2012, 10:10:15 am »

Crikey, a whole discussion on how to undo one bolt...........you lot are making me feel like a mechanical genius

You could always oil it.......oh, wait a minute.......

Enceladus · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 June 2012, 11:06:16 am »

Quote from: darrsi on 04 June 2012, 10:10:15 am

Crikey, a whole discussion on how to undo one bolt...........you lot are making me feel like a mechanical genius

You could always oil it.......oh, wait a minute.......

lmao !
just a thought.....
would putting a bit of copper grease on the threads of the new bolt help for next time ?

born to be mild · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 June 2012, 01:35:14 pm »

Dont bother mate, copper grease is really best for threads that are likely to seize through corrosion, if you use copper greas on the plug some will find its way into the new oil and that means that youve got particles of copper floating around in there, will probably have zero effect but wont help either. You shouldnt have any trouble at future oil changes if you use a good quality ring spanner.

Major Rant · « **Reply #20 on:** 04 June 2012, 09:38:38 pm »

Quote

Oh and have a bloody big drip tray, the stupid location of the plug means the old oil doesnt go where you want it to go.

Can be avoided by cutting a small pop bottle in half lengthways and tucking one end of it betwen frame and engine.
Diverts it out sideways.

YamFazMan · « **Reply #21 on:** 04 June 2012, 11:04:24 pm »

Hi
Yea same here I use a short length of plastic guttering
ATB YFM

edc · « **Reply #22 on:** 07 June 2012, 12:05:58 pm »

So - my comment is:

"If you can't get a socket onto it (which I found too) - how are you supposed to use a torque wrench to tighten to the recommended 43(?)mM???"

I guess you simply don't?

Buzz · « **Reply #23 on:** 07 June 2012, 03:26:29 pm »

Exactly what I thought on Saturday...I did it up as tight as I could manage with a 7" ring spanner then gave that a few soft knocks with my mole grips. Seems to have stayed tight anyway.

fishwibbler · « **Reply #24 on:** 15 June 2012, 11:29:34 pm »

Basically, tighten it up to bolt shear, then back it off a quarter turn!

I jest.

On the drain plug, you should be using a new crush washer at each change. These are not expensive and it takes little effort to actually "crush" the washer to help form the seal with the grease you should also apply.

tbh, find a good bike mechanic and have them do it - the money you "save" by buying the oil catching tray and other improvised devices, oil itself, oil filter, crush washer, probably replacement plug bolt, paying for oil disposal, mess on your drive/garage floor etc. it is not worth the sh@g and hassle.

I did an oil change once and the filter was a pain to get off. Drove a screwdriver through it to get it off and scarred my fingers for life on the sharp edges. Total nightmare, support your local industries!

fish.