rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 14:07:11 GMT 1
My 4L1 crankcase is completely stripped down and ready for vapour blasting. The only bolt remaining is the sump drain plug. I couldn’t get it out months ago when the engine was complete so I drained the oil through the side casing. Messy! Now that the case is split I’d like to get it out but it won’t budge. Can’t move it with my normal socket wrench and my rattle gun hasn’t worked. I don’t want to damage the casing by being too brutal. Any thoughts on what might help would be gratefully received.
Rolie
|
|
|
|
Post by stusco on Sept 23, 2021 14:17:47 GMT 1
Aluminium expands faster than steel so a bit of heat around the plug with a blow torch should help
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 14:58:13 GMT 1
Thanks Stusco.
I’ve just tried some heat but still no dice!
I could leave it and do oil changes by taking off the side casing but I’d like to get it out if I can as long as I don’t risk damaging the casing. There doesn’t appear to be a washer.
R
|
|
|
|
Post by tacky1 on Sept 23, 2021 15:17:00 GMT 1
Bit of head an an air impact gun and it'll open.....
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 15:39:56 GMT 1
A bit of head! I didn’t think that this was that type of site but I’d almost be prepared to do anything to get this ********* bolt out.
R
|
|
|
|
Post by headcoats on Sept 23, 2021 16:13:43 GMT 1
Have you tried a breaker bar
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 16:38:16 GMT 1
No not yet. I’m not sure how much force I can apply without doing damage. I’m worried that it’s a fairly light part of the casting sitting proud of the main section. I’d expected the rattle gun to work. Final solution will be to drill it out.
R
|
|
|
|
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Sept 23, 2021 16:52:25 GMT 1
Bigger rattle gun 🙈
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by 29davyt on Sept 23, 2021 16:56:08 GMT 1
I’d not be forcing it, should of gone with a bit of heat tbh, could be cross threaded ? Might be best drilling rather than risk cracking the casing 🤔
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 16:59:43 GMT 1
Tried a 2ft breaker bar. No joy I’m afraid. Most of the threads are exposed in the slot that forms the drain channel. There’s only a short section of full threads (less than 10mm) and whatever the bond is between the flanged bolt head and the casing. Something doesn’t want to give.
R
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 17:27:36 GMT 1
I don’t think it’s cross threaded. It’s seated perfectly against the casing and certainly doesn’t leak. That’s why I could just leave it.
Why is it that what should be the easiest jobs turn out to be a real pain? Apart from this and the fork seals everything has been a dawdle.
R
|
|
|
|
Post by headcoats on Sept 23, 2021 18:35:29 GMT 1
Certainly mystifying how it won't come out
Has a previous owner stripped the thread then used some industry strength Loctite to hold it in ?
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 18:44:52 GMT 1
The threads I can see inside look absolutely clean and in perfect condition. No sign of thread lock.
Maybe I do need a bigger rattle gun as Steve suggested. Smacks of Jaws!
|
|
|
|
Post by cb250g5 on Sept 23, 2021 19:50:48 GMT 1
Drill a hole through it, tap it and fit a smaller bolt inside the stuck one. Use a copper washer or whatever, to stop it leaking. You may need to file the old bolt flush inside and open the channel up, to get all the old oil out.
|
|
tommo
Drag-strip hero
Posts: 279
|
Post by tommo on Sept 23, 2021 19:51:03 GMT 1
anti slip snap on socket on a strong arm all day will move it
|
|
|
|
Post by tonyd123 on Sept 23, 2021 20:56:59 GMT 1
Be careful with a breaker bar, the castings are relatively thin. I saw a pic fairly recently of a sump bolt with about an inch of casting still attached  |
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 23, 2021 21:57:19 GMT 1
Thanks all.
What Tony said is exactly what I’m worried about.
Time to take stock. 🙂
Rolie
|
|
|
|
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Sept 23, 2021 22:37:03 GMT 1
I'd have thought an impact gun would not wreck the cases
When you consider you can loosen a clutch centre nut just holding the basket in your hand there isn't much of a force on the surrounding material
At worst it will rip the threads out which if it's that tight they are maybe stressed anyway
Steve
|
|
|
|
Post by chrisg on Sept 23, 2021 23:22:08 GMT 1
Drill a hole through it, tap it and fit a smaller bolt inside the stuck one. Use a copper washer or whatever, to stop it leaking. You may need to file the old bolt flush inside and open the channel up, to get all the old oil out. Brilliant thinking outside the box. |
|
|
|
Post by LC_BOTT on Sept 24, 2021 9:24:29 GMT 1
If its all in bits as you say, best thing is to drill it out, and fix it as it should be, , something sound wrong, might be due to lack of sealing washer. Nows the easiest time to get it sorted.
Could the vapour blaster sort it, someone on here does it and also does alloy welding, handy if it all goes wrong. AVB on here I think??
|
|
|
|
Post by JonW on Sept 24, 2021 13:57:47 GMT 1
more heat. Then use a powerful rattle gun, 350NM or more. something around 100 isnt enough.
I reckon its been put in with some sealant, heat will kill that.
|
|
rolie
Weekend rider
Posts: 67
|
Post by rolie on Sept 29, 2021 17:31:11 GMT 1
Thanks for all the suggestions. It’s out!
I brought it round to a mate and he got it out with a socket and a bar with what seemed to be far less force than I had applied. It was really embarrassing that it came out so easily in the end. Maybe it’s because he’s a mechanic but I think that bolt just had something against me.
The bolt was clean, no thread lock and the mating surfaces of the bolt and the case were both clean. I don’t know why it was so hard to get out but I’m delighted it is. Now all I need is a washer!
Onwards and upwards.
Rolie
Rolie
|
|
|
|
Post by headcoats on Sept 29, 2021 18:01:20 GMT 1
Good news !
You just need to eat more spinach now !
|
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Sept 29, 2021 18:19:55 GMT 1
You must have loosened it for him 😉
🙂
|
|
|
|
Post by shaunthe2nd on Sept 29, 2021 18:42:05 GMT 1
My GF always says that ^^^^^ about the jars she makes me open!
|
|
|
|
Post by midlifecrisisrd on Sept 29, 2021 18:52:16 GMT 1
My GF always says that ^^^^^ about the jars she makes me open! Are you sure that's not the other way round 😂 Steve |
|
|
|
Post by shaunthe2nd on Sept 29, 2021 19:25:42 GMT 1
Sussed. 😁
|
|
