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It sounds like what you are seeing in a "very thin wire" is likely the factory threads. A helicoil wouldn't come out in pieces, but aluminum threads sure will.
OP, this is a very plausible explanation of what you have.
Did the plug pull, or fall out? Or did you have to unscrew it and found the pieces...?
Before you drill, you may try cleaning the threads to see if only a few of the threads were damaged. Then you may be able to use the standard 1/2x20 plug.
You might also be able to retap the hole deeper into the pan, and you could buy a longer 1/2x20 plug that would engage the deeper threads.
If all the threads (or most of them) are toast, you could tap for a 9/16x18 threaded hole and use an oversized Harley Drain plug. I know a couple companies make those. I believe "Colony" is one of them.
Don't be afraid of fixing it with an insert, but I would use a Time-Sert if you go that route..
Since you will have the pan off, you can inspect it closely, and explore different options.
FWIW... I just rebuilt an engine on a friend's 2012 Road Glide. His crank went bad, metal went through the entire engine. We had to replace his oil pan. As of a couple months ago, the list price on a new HD 103" oil pan was $397.74....
Last edited by hattitude; Sep 17, 2025 at 08:34 AM.
[QUOTE=hattitude;22117881
You might also be able to retap the hole deeper into the pan, and you could buy a longer 1/2x20 plug that would engage the deeper threads.. [/QUOTE]
Hi all, new member here. I was changing the oil on my 2012 Ultra Limited and when I took the bolt out, out came an insert someone put in previously.
My question is if anybody knows what size of Timesert to buy? I don’t know how to measure for the correct size.
Al
Consider going to this link in order to identify the part you are trying to describe.
Then you can be in the position to better identify the situation.
Perhaps it is a stripped bolt and a longer bolt or a one time oversized drain plug will resolve the problem.
Got it I appreciate the effort, the problem is that the insert, whatever it was it came out in pieces, in a form of very thin wire, the plug itself is the original from factory, so you see that’s all I got.
I got the oil tank out in preparation to drill for some kind of insert. Ill measure the hole with the caliper tomorrow.
Al
Pictures would help greatly. A very thin wire does not make me think of helicoil or a knockoff, it makes me suspect a home-made bodge with a piece of wire.
You say you have the oil tank out, would I be correct in thinking you actually mean you simply have the pan off?
Personally, between a helicoil or a timesert, I prefer the timesert or like. It's a solid piece, which I think is preferable and better at sealing liquids in place. A properly done repair is perfectly fine.
Hi all, new member here. I was changing the oil on my 2012 Ultra Limited and when I took the bolt out, out came an insert someone put in previously.
My question is if anybody knows what size of Timesert to buy? I don’t know how to measure for the correct size.
Al
If you already have the oil pan out, bite the bullet and go buy a new oem pan. Lots of decent suggestions posted here, but most are some form or another of a bandaid. I went through this a couple of years ago, and now wished I had just gotten the new pan before I tried 3-4 other ideas, that ultimately didn't reallly work.
That $163 was for the kit for installing the timesert mentioned above my post.
That 9/16 rework was for retooling for a MS 9/16 fitting.
I have that cutter in a set of the 4 common sizes 7/16 thru 3/4
I researched what you are saying.
The tap drill for 9/16-18 is 1/2", so your good there.
It shows an o-ring with that plug. Appears to imply you will have enough of the bevel from the 1/2-20 contour cutter for the o-ring with the original plug. However, if you check the spec, that original bevel is d5=0.551.
The 9/16-18 tap will cut it out. Your going to need a face gasket. I do recall I think they show a tool available to recut bevel for their plug.
Could be wrong and it is part of that timesert kit. That's why I mentioned needing to rework it to 9/16-18. Running that in there before tap would bevel it correctly. (Not going to be able to do that under a bike.)
Should work. Worth a try. Sure is the cheapest method and my opinion your method is the best.
One would need to be very carefully if you went with a 3/8 NPT pipe plug.
Be very easy to crack the pan if one went too tight.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Sep 18, 2025 at 05:48 PM.
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