Tranny Drain Plug Stripped

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Apr 7, 2011 | 08:22 AM

#11

CYCLE

Cruiser

Joined: Mar 2011

Posts: 105

Likes: 0

From: Old Bridge, NJ

Bring it to the dealer so you don't mess it up any more then it has to me and you wont have any aggravation doing it and its done right with a piece of mind!

Apr 7, 2011 | 08:42 AM

#12

handyhoward

Road Master

Joined: Aug 2007

Posts: 1,049

Likes: 5

From: Emerald Coast, FL

Quote:

Originally Posted by cycle

bring it to the dealer so you don't mess it up any more then it has to me and you wont have any aggravation doing it and its done right with a piece of mind!

not always!!!

Apr 7, 2011 | 11:42 AM

#13

NorCal Dog

Road Master

Joined: Nov 2009

Posts: 766

Likes: 1

From: 415/707

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDB187

Torquing didn't have anything to do with it. It was trying to find the hole up between the two shocks. Just got crossed threaded. I like the idea of just buying a new bike. As for the helicoil, is there a way to put one of those in without removing the tranny?

the cross threading part wasn't mentioned in the OP, so i figured it was over torqued

good luck with the repairs bro

Apr 7, 2011 | 11:56 AM

#14

97FXSTSB

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,061

Likes: 52

From: So-Cal

Using a long 1/4 Allen socket (long Allen, not a long extension) rather than the usual 5/8 socket makes it easier to squeeze between the shocks and reduce the chance of crossthreading

Apr 7, 2011 | 12:43 PM

#15

lionsqrne

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 1,533

Likes: 2

From: Nebraska

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97FXSTSB

Using a long 1/4 Allen socket (long Allen, not a long extension) rather than the usual 5/8 socket makes it easier to squeeze between the shocks and reduce the chance of crossthreading

Exactly what I use now.

Apr 7, 2011 | 02:27 PM

#16

LDB187

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 558

Likes: 30

From: Clarksville, TN

Thanks for the tricks and tips. I really never give it any thought except for that one time per yr when I change it but I'm going to have the dealer do the cam tensioner conversion so might as well have them repair that also.

Apr 7, 2011 | 04:35 PM

#17

Yosemite

Tourer

Joined: Mar 2007

Posts: 271

Likes: 13

From: OKC

Quote:

Originally Posted by LDB187

Same thing happened to me LD on about my third time changing it. Talked to some folks including techs at two HD dealerships and they all said the same thing. That being (a) it is not uncommon, especially cross-threading, and (b) they all used the following procedure to fix it.

Go to the auto parts stores and look for an oversize self tapping plug with an o-ring sealing center drain bolt that comes out. I found them at Auto Zone and Pep Boys both. I bought several sizes after eye-balling the original plug against them (stated size seems to be variable) and after trying several, found the one that fit the best.

I don't have one of the gold scissor jacks folks use on bike lifts so I took the wheels off my regular floor lift (the one you can pull around like a floor jack), slid it under my bike while on the big lift and jacked it up about 12-16", locked down the jack and tied down the bike. This gave me lots of room to get up under it and screw the thing in straight this time.

I threaded the tapping base in slowly, backing out several times after about 1.5 to 2 threads were cut, cleaned it off, cleaned the threads off, etc. until I'd tapped it all the way to a seated point. Then I poured kerosene through the filler hole to wash it out, did it a second time with a 1/4 quart of oil mixed with the kerosene 50-50, and then blew it out with high pressure air from the top. Finally just stuck my finger in and worked it around to be sure I could feel no other thread shards.

After that, it was a matter of screwing the whole thing in and torquing to spec, and filling with trans fluid. No problems in 10k miles and no leaks.

Hope this helps.

Apr 8, 2011 | 06:14 AM

#18

LDB187

Thread Starter

Road Captain

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 558

Likes: 30

From: Clarksville, TN

WOW, that's a pretty awesome technique there. Thanks a bunch YO....

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Apr 9, 2011 | 09:07 PM

#19

cpiad

Account Closed

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 682

Likes: 1

From: In the World

Quote:

Originally Posted by lionsqrne

I stripped mine on my 07 about the 3rd oil change. Was in a hurry as I was going riding and used a socket to quickly.

Put a helicoil in it. Been fine ever since.

Helicoil + one.

Apr 9, 2011 | 09:10 PM

#20

cpiad

Account Closed

Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 682

Likes: 1

From: In the World

Quote:

Originally Posted by CYCLE

Bring it to the dealer so you don't mess it up any more then it has to me and you wont have any aggravation doing it and its done right with a piece of mind!

Dealer doing something right? You must live in a parallel universe. Here the dealerships will strip the hole and lie about it. A bunch of 18 yr old kids and some lazy knumb skulls.