Date:         Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:31:52 -0800
Reply-To:     George Wietor <wietorg@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Wietor <wietorg@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: oil drain threads stripped
Comments: To: Allan Streib <streib@CS.INDIANA.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <m17i62e29q.fsf@cs.indiana.edu>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Just try the slightly oversize plug designed for this exact application.  As I recall, mine was cheap at NAPA.
That way, you have some time to plan your next move, no harm done, etc. Buy  a spare in case a fellow busser has this happen.
George in watery Grand Rapids.


>
> The other thing I considered was just retapping the hole,
> installing the
> heli-coil, and then using a "suction" method to
> extract oil for future
> changes and never have to open that drain plug again.  I
> don't know how
> practical this is with the WBX motor; it is the recommended
> way to
> change oil on many modern engines (probably in part to
> avoid this exact
> problem).
>
> Allan
>
>
> Ken Wilford <kenwilfy@comcast.net> writes:
>
> > Allan, since oil is such a critical component of
> engine life, a
> > permanent and proper repair is in order.  I use
> Time-cert threaded
> > inserts for my repairs and they work very well and
> eliminate the
> > possibility of this happening again (you will have to
> strip out a
> > piece of steel instead of aluminum).  However the
> Timesert kit costs
> > over $100 so it is not very economical for a single
> repair.  In that
> > case you can buy a heli-coil kit from Harbor Freight
> for less than
> > $30.  What you are looking for is 14mm with a 1.5mm
> thread pitch.  The
> > kit comes with a couple helicoils and the tools to do
> the job (you may
> > have to buy a drill bit the proper size though).  Once
> you do this
> > repair the right way you will never have to worry
> about it again.
> > Losing your oil drain plug going down the road is a
> nightmare
> > scenario.  Don't let it happen to you!
> >
> > If you need any parts please let me know.
> >
> > Ken Wilford
> > John 3:16
> > www.vanagain.com
> >
>
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