Stripped tranny drain plug

[Ducman]

The drain plug was in real tight and had sat for several monthes. It made a pretty big pop when it came loose and then wouldn't get very tight when I put it back in and just kept spinning. Came out with all the aluminum threads around the bolt.

 

Whats the best fix for a stripped trany drain plug. I'm thinking I'll just buy a slightly bigger bolt, drill and tap. My friend said they make self tapping drain plugs but I think that may be more for automotive where the engine oil pan is thinner material and steal. It would be ideal if I could use an insert with the stock drain plug, but and insert kit would probably cost a lot more than the bigger bolt, drill and tap. Anyway, I figured I couldn't be the first to jack up the drain plug threads so I'd ask how others fixed it.

[Ducman]

I should have searched first. There was some good advice in the thread below. I was thinking of drilling/tapping using grease to collect the chips or vacuuming and them flushing with diesel. Any other suggestions are welcom.

 

stripped drain plug

[trex banshee]

well the only problem with tappin it is the little peices will go into the tranny which is never good. The right way to fix it would be to split the cases and retap it and clean out all of the shavings.

 

well you posted while i was typing so it looks like that would work too.

[BigRed350x]

You can do it without splitting them, just flush it a bunch of times. We've used diesel to flush them before, its thinner than oil and will tend to flow the pieces out better. Just don't get real violent with your drill and you should be ok. I would flush it like 4 or 5 times. Any pieces left after that will be pretty small. Consider the material the cases are made of... not as hard as what the gears are made of so any small pieces left after that point would just get crushed between the gears if they did get up in there. The pices might flow over to the clutch side, and the way the clutch cover is designed, it should catch any garbage that goes over there up front below your primary drive gear on the crank.

 

Personally I would split the cases, but if you want to try, it can be done without splitting. We fixed a guy at the dunes by drilling / tapping / flushing.

[blanco25]

i had the same problem just went to the checker autoparts store and bought an oversized automotive drain plug. its worked so far. goodluck :thumb:

[csrmel]

dont tighten the drainplugs down hard. they are under no pressure. all that is needed is to have them finger tight.

[BigRed350x]

dont tighten the drainplugs down hard. they are under no pressure. all that is needed is to have them finger tight.

 

"Finger" tight will fall right out first time you run it. The vibrations will back it out real easy. Get a torque rench and torque it to like 10 ft-lbs or so. Or just go a little tight with your socket rench.

[csrmel]

bigred, ive yet to use a tool other than my fingers to tighten my drain plug. the rubber washer does a real good job at sealing things up. no leaks.

[racer]

bigred, ive yet to use a tool other than my fingers to tighten my drain plug. the rubber washer does a real good job at sealing things up. no leaks.

your drain plug shouldnt have a rubber washer. it should have a copper crush washer.

 

and tightening it with your hand? i think id add that to a list of personal no-no's.

[Ducman]

I went all over town, priced taps, drill bits, various drain plugs. I went to several autopart stores for self tapping drain plugs, with no luck. My last stop was at Franklin Auto Parts and the dude behind the counter said, Oh you just need a 14mm +1 oversize drain plug. $3.99 and they had it in stock. A little grease to catch the shavings, wich there were very little, and little flush and clean up, and done. Very easy and worked like a charm.