stripped drain plug
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,328
Likes: 15
From: Pacific Northwest
Warranty would and should be the first thing to try. You just never know, you might end up with a new outer primary and all is golden.
Second, the MOCO seems to think all drain plugs should have thread tape or dope used on them. If that plug has an o-ring, absolutely insist that it be reassembled sans thread sealer of any kind. That's most likely the cause of the thread galling in the first place.
Failing the warranty cure you might be better off tapping threads one size larger and fitting a new corresponding plug.
Good Luck.
Second, the MOCO seems to think all drain plugs should have thread tape or dope used on them. If that plug has an o-ring, absolutely insist that it be reassembled sans thread sealer of any kind. That's most likely the cause of the thread galling in the first place.
Failing the warranty cure you might be better off tapping threads one size larger and fitting a new corresponding plug.
Good Luck.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 858
Likes: 20
From: USA
I did away w the stock drain plug and purchase one of these below... For $14 you can't go wrong, plus its a better plug w a better magnet, Harleys plugs are cheaply made, sad but true.
http://www.magneticdrainplug.com/Mot...l#.UZ48WeC3qK8
http://www.magneticdrainplug.com/Mot...l#.UZ48WeC3qK8
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 154
From: Buffalo, NY
first time the plug has been out. he said the threads came out when he pulled the plug, said it was hard coming out the whole time he was unscrewing it. i'm guessing it was installed incorrectly from the factory. i have not seen it yet,but was thinking a time sert or helicoil would be the fix. i also was thinking about a self tapping oversize drain plug from the auto parts store.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 881
Likes: 13
From: ONT
Take the plug to HD dealer, Napa, or some other auto parts dealer and get them to give you a replacement plug next size up from original one. Your brother isn't the first to strip a drain and won't be the last. They actually make replacements that ream the hole and cut threads as you put them in. I'd make sure there aren't any metal cuttings left behind inside the casing when new plug has been installed. Not a big deal to remove the primary chain cover.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 19
From: Cypress, TX
Go down to the autoparts store and get a self tapping 1 over plug. Ran that in my streetglide for 30,000 miles after stripping my primary drain plug at 20,000 miles. Easy and worked great.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
I did the exact same thing. Threads came out when I removed the plug and installed a helicoil. 15,000 miles with no problems. Unfortunatley, I don't remember the size.
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
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,142
Likes: 124
that's what i was thinking also, but their going to say he stripped it, so not even going down that road, gonna fix it ourselves and be done with it. just kinda sucks that it happened right from the factory and he's pretty pissed about it. where's the quality control, is anybody paying attention when they are putting these things together? when i bought my new bike there was all kinds of lose stuff on it, but as so as i buy anything i come home and go over it and make sure everythings tight and right.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,217
Likes: 3,045
From: St.Louis Mo.
who ever put the plug in at the factory must have put the gorilla torque to it. threads came right out wrapped around the plug. he said it was hard to turn all the way out. the whole idea of doing your own oil changes is to keep the idiots at the dealer away from you stuff. don't have any faith in the dealers, had nothing but problems with them from scratching the wheels to not putting enough oil in and leaving things loose. had a buddy of mine had a rear tire put on and they didn't put the pulley side spacer back in, made it about a mile and tore up alot of stuff. anyway you would think from the factory it would 'nt have been that tight. he's probably going to want to weld it up and chrome it if he takes it off.