Major Problem - Oil Drain Plug Stripped

10292 Views 16 Replies 4 Participants Last post by drew4302, 27 d ago

azproform

Discussion Starter · Nov 12, 2020

So I decided to try and change my oil today, removing the 13mm drain plug was quite tough and upon removal, I noticed that it had actually stripped - I tried to re-install the drain plug only to find upon getting it tight it just breaks and spins freely.

I know this is the last thing you want to happen to your engine, I have never dealt with this situation and would appreciate any and all help possible.

I have done very minor research just now and read that you can try a heli-coil kit but again, I am very unsure how to proceed.

Please help!

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Lesblank

· #2 · Nov 13, 2020

No biggy, very common. You have two options:
1. Helicore new threads, would be best to pull oil pan to do this. It's a permanent fix but came be labour extensive.
2. Use an Over Size oil drain plug. I looked it up and the OEM plug should be a 14 by 1.5 thread. They make a single oversize plug that will slightly enlarge the hole in the pan slightly. You just screw it in like any other drain plug. Yes, it's that easy. You will have some folks say this is not the right way. But I've installed hundreds of them with an issue one. If it was mine, this is what I would do. I currently have an oversized plug on my race car. Any automotive parts store will have them. Just take your old plug in to confirm threads and how long yours is.

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azproform

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 13, 2020

Thank you for the quick and thorough response Les! I truly do appreciate it. After doing some more research I went ahead and ordered all of the following, with the plans on returning what I don't use.

I read on some other forums that users have had great success with the "piggy-back" style self-tapping drain plugs as well, as it eliminates any future possibility of stripping the case assembly.

I did also purchase the trusty oversized drain plug as well - a mechanic buddy of mine said just as you did, he has used them hundreds of times and never an issue with them.

Will keep you posted.

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Lesblank

· #4 · Nov 13, 2020

No problem. Just FYI, I'm ASE certified and would not recommend anything that is not a correct fix and not time tested or something I would not personally do. I've used the piggy back plugs a lot in cars that use thinner oil. The opening in the piggy back plug is smaller and will drain slower with the thicker oil our bike use. It's not real, real slow, but will take a while longer. Yes, the piggy back plugs are good.

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Lesblank

· #5 · Nov 13, 2020

Also, get it fixed quickly, I want you to join the monthly mileage challenge soon. Don't care if you only get 5 miles, let's celebrate them as a group.

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azproform

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 13, 2020

As I said before, thank you! I definitely do appreciate the thorough advice!

Yeah, that's my fault totally I meant to message you earlier for my 10-20 ending mileage and for this month but have had a ton going on. I will get to it ASAP - got a short trip coming up soon will be out of state for a couple of days as soon as I get back I am going to get a few more miles on the bike.

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PugslyCat

· #7 · Nov 13, 2020

Lesblank said:
No biggy, very common. You have two options:
1. Helicore new threads, would be best to pull oil pan to do this. It's a permanent fix but came be labour extensive.
2. Use an Over Size oil drain plug.

For cars I was always ready to go with the over sized, self-tapping drain plug. They are quick, easy, and have been proven to work in millions of cars over at least the last seventy years if not longer. If you cross thread that it will destroy the new threads and then you are probably looking at installing a helicoil or replacing the oil pan.

The piggyback oil plug is basically the same thing on the initial installation, but has a plug within the plug which is not self-tapping. On one hand, that should be a safe guard against destroying the threads again, but it's also a narrower passage to try and drain the oil out through.

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azproform

Discussion Starter · #8 · Nov 15, 2020

Hey guys, so quick update.

I got three different drain plugs and I can't get any of them to bite properly.

The Dorman M14-1.50 will not bite at all, it seems too big to catch any of the threads.

The Needa Part Piggyback has way too big of a head to seat properly and I didn't even try to tighten that one down, even though it seems like it wants to bite and catch the threads on the bike.

I went out and purchased an M12-1.75 Dorman and its way too small lol

I am not sure if I am doing something wrong, but I don't think so.

Any suggestions?

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Lesblank

· #9 · Nov 15, 2020

2

Just looked up the ones you bought:
The Doorman 65400 is a double over size one. You would use that one if you had put in a single over size and stripped that one out.

I see the issue with the head being to big on the piggy back plugs. Sometimes it's not an issue and other times it is.
You need to pick up a single oversize plug similar to the one in my first reply. Remember, you aren't doing anything wrong, you are gaining an experience. This one should work without an issue, amazon sells it or you local auto parts store.

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azproform

Discussion Starter · #10 · Nov 15, 2020

Les, I was dissecting everything and I literally just noticed that as well - I purchased the same size but SO from Advanced and will pick it up tomorrow. Will keep you posted, and as always, really do appreciate you being so quick with it

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Lesblank

· #11 · Nov 15, 2020

azproform said:
Les, I was dissecting everything and I literally just noticed that as well - I purchased the same size but SO from Advanced and will pick it up tomorrow. Will keep you posted, and as always, really do appreciate you being so quick with it

No problem. That's what makes forums work so well. People sharing their experiences with others. That's one reason I start a lot of my weird posts. If we get others to frequent the forum and share their knowledge, it's a win - win. So next time you see one one of my off the wall posts, and probably laugh, you know I'm trying to build the forum.

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Lesblank

· #12 · Nov 15, 2020

@azproform , any luck yet with the single over size plug yet?

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azproform

Discussion Starter · #13 · Nov 15, 2020

Just got home with it, will update in 30 minutes either way

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azproform

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 15, 2020 (Edited)

Took a lot longer because I am still at work but I can say that I have successfully installed the OS M14-1.50 drain plug - It wouldn't catch at first and I had to line it up and tap on the socket a few times and it caught the threads. I slowly pushed it through and when it got too tough I backed off a turn or two and continued on until the washer was flush and the plug was nice and tight.

Ran the bike for 5-7 minutes in a clean spot of the garage and can say I see no leaks from the filter or the new drain plug.

Thank you SOOOOO much for your help!!

I am leaving for AZ tomorrow and will be back late next week. I am hoping the weather doesn't turn to absolute garbage by the time I get back so I can get some more miles in.

Lesblank

· #15 · Nov 15, 2020

azproform said:
Took a lot longer because I am still at work but I can say that I have successfully installed the OS M14-1.50 drain plug - It wouldn't catch at first and I had to line it up and tap on the socket a few times and it caught the threads. I slowly pushed it through and when it got too tough I backed off a turn or two and continued on until the washer was flush and the plug was nice and tight.

Ran the bike for 5-7 minutes in a clean spot of the garage and can say I see no leaks from the filter or the new drain plug.

Thank you SOOOOO much for your help!!

I am leaving for AZ tomorrow and will be back late next week. I am hoping the weather doesn't turn to absolute garbage by the time I get back so I can get some more miles in.

Excellent!!! Good job. Ride often and safe.

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PugslyCat

· #16 · Nov 16, 2020

azproform said:
... I slowly pushed it through and when it got too tough I backed off a turn or two and continued on until the washer was flush and the plug was nice and tight.

I thought about commenting earlier that any of these solutions needs to be treated like tapping new threads with a die, because you really are. You need to constantly work the new plug in a couple of turns and then back it out to break up and clear the chips being created.

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drew4302

· #17 · 27 d ago (Edited)

I have a 2014 Ultra and stripped out the oil and primary case. Ordered the Doorman 65217 and it’s quite a bit longer than the original. Is that an issue?

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