Date:         Mon, 16 Apr 2001 02:23:03 EDT
Reply-To:     JKrevnov@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Help! Stripped trans oil filler plug!
Comments: To: swright@sls.bc.ca
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 4/15/01 6:17:50 PM, swright@SLS.BC.CA writes:

<< Since it is aluminum it now of course, trashed. >>

Shawn,

It has been awhile since I last had one in my hands, but I think the filler
plug is made of steel.  It would take some doing to round one out enough that
it cannot be salvaged.  Here are some things to consider:
1/ Are you certain that your socket driver is 17mm and made of quality
material?  If you have one of those Chinese/Taiwanese/Junkese drivers, it may
be that the driver has rounded over more than the plug socket has rounded
out.  So, get a GOOD driver.
2/ Did you seat the driver to the bottom of the socket?  If not, the top of
the socket can be rounded yet a proper driver fully inserted into the socket
will turn it free.
3/ Did your rebuilder use a locking compound which requires heating to
release?  If so, heat the plug to 250-300 degrees F. and undo the plug while
it is still hot.
4/ If the socket is bitched up beyond hope, there are extractors made to be
driven into damaged hex sockets.  Unfortunately, they are expensive and among
the industrial supply houses with which I have dealt, they are only sold in
sets.  But, in this connected world of ours, someone is probably selling them
singly.
Rich