Stripped Transmission oil drain
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Stripped Transmission oil drain
Am a proud owner of a 2003 Anniversary bike (not the first owner but my first bike in the US and not parting with it!). Most of the time I was paying the dealer for the servicing till I realized I could as well do the same job and for quite cheap. Also HD told me they stopped servicing bikes older than 2005. Unfortunately while threading the transmission plug the hole got stripped. I think I didn't seat the plug correctly and oil was slowly leaking so instead of removing and realigning, tightened it and a couple of threads got stripped.
I tried an oversized plug today (https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...1cd/11826824-P) but it's not helping and oil is still leaking. I had called up HD earlier in the week but they came up with the standard oil pan replacement only solution!
Thinking of buying a helicoil and giving that a try but I don't have a proper work place or ramps to pull up the bike. Wondering if I can drill with the ground clearance? Secondly, are there any other options like a magnetized plug or something a basic biker could handle?
I tried an oversized plug today (https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/...1cd/11826824-P) but it's not helping and oil is still leaking. I had called up HD earlier in the week but they came up with the standard oil pan replacement only solution!
Thinking of buying a helicoil and giving that a try but I don't have a proper work place or ramps to pull up the bike. Wondering if I can drill with the ground clearance? Secondly, are there any other options like a magnetized plug or something a basic biker could handle?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,606
Likes: 6,439
From: Honah Lee
If the fitting is the one with the MS fitting with the O-ring. It seals in the bevel and not the face. That way, the face to face is metal and proper torque never loosens.
Quite often, it cracks if overtightened. It usualy 1/2-20. You can get over size plugs at autoparts stores. Going to need to go to a face gasket. Tapping over is an option since you say it still leaks. So I am not clear if you are saying it is still striped or just leaking. If it's cracked, that is why it is leaking.
If it tightens, then it just could be the gasket. O-ring is no longer going to work and for sure not with a helicoil . They make a gasket with two layers of copper and a rubber ring in it. The rubber seals and plug locks on copper. Woks great. What is on my Jeep.
That little aluminum can mostly be caught with grease on tap. Not going to hurt anything in a Harley transmission anyway. They are full of slivers of hard steel from dog drive lockup from shifting.
Quite often, it cracks if overtightened. It usualy 1/2-20. You can get over size plugs at autoparts stores. Going to need to go to a face gasket. Tapping over is an option since you say it still leaks. So I am not clear if you are saying it is still striped or just leaking. If it's cracked, that is why it is leaking.
If it tightens, then it just could be the gasket. O-ring is no longer going to work and for sure not with a helicoil . They make a gasket with two layers of copper and a rubber ring in it. The rubber seals and plug locks on copper. Woks great. What is on my Jeep.
That little aluminum can mostly be caught with grease on tap. Not going to hurt anything in a Harley transmission anyway. They are full of slivers of hard steel from dog drive lockup from shifting.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 24, 2020 at 07:06 AM.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Edit: Sorry, What is a(n) indy?
Last edited by Alok; Oct 24, 2020 at 01:35 PM.
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
If the fitting is the one with the MS fitting with the O-ring. It seals in the bevel and not the face. That way, the face to face is metal and proper torque never loosens.
Quite often, it cracks if overtightened. It usualy 1/2-20. You can get over size plugs at autoparts stores. Going to need to go to a face gasket. Tapping over is an option since you say it still leaks. So I am not clear if you are saying it is still striped or just leaking. If it's cracked, that is why it is leaking.
If it tightens, then it just could be the gasket. O-ring is no longer going to work and for sure not with a helicoil . They make a gasket with two layers of copper and a rubber ring in it. The rubber seals and plug locks on copper. Woks great. What is on my Jeep.
That little aluminum can mostly be caught with grease on tap. Not going to hurt anything in a Harley transmission anyway. They are full of slivers of hard steel from dog drive lockup from shifting.
Quite often, it cracks if overtightened. It usualy 1/2-20. You can get over size plugs at autoparts stores. Going to need to go to a face gasket. Tapping over is an option since you say it still leaks. So I am not clear if you are saying it is still striped or just leaking. If it's cracked, that is why it is leaking.
If it tightens, then it just could be the gasket. O-ring is no longer going to work and for sure not with a helicoil . They make a gasket with two layers of copper and a rubber ring in it. The rubber seals and plug locks on copper. Woks great. What is on my Jeep.
That little aluminum can mostly be caught with grease on tap. Not going to hurt anything in a Harley transmission anyway. They are full of slivers of hard steel from dog drive lockup from shifting.
If the weather turns good I might try to lay the bike on it's side so that I can see what is happening. That way if I decide to tap it might give me more space rather than just the ground clearance if it was standing.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
Did you use a Time Sert or a Helicoil?
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
|
6th Gear
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
From: Seattle, WA
So I bought the helicoil off amazon:
Also got a 33/64 drill bit as suggested by various videos and the above tool. The drill though doesn't fit in the hole. It is a bigger diameter. Is that expected? I put my drill on the highest setting and tried to brute force expand the hole but no results. Link to the drill bit:
Am I doing something wrong? or any suggestions?
Also got a 33/64 drill bit as suggested by various videos and the above tool. The drill though doesn't fit in the hole. It is a bigger diameter. Is that expected? I put my drill on the highest setting and tried to brute force expand the hole but no results. Link to the drill bit:
Am I doing something wrong? or any suggestions?