Sump plug?

[98tls]

Have had my TLs for years and been real regular with oil changes...lately i have noticed when putting sump plug back in its getting that horrible soft feeling and i swear its going in further than it used to...which means i think its going to strip the thread inside sometime soon...was thinking about a bung in there (loc-tite) with a bolt that i could screw into that...would be harder than the crap they make the sumps out of...anyone done this or have any ideas where i could find such a thing..?

[tl_tub]

What about getting a new sump plug and using a tap to go up to the next thread size?

It will be something I have to sort out soon, as I know my thread is on the way out too.

[98tls]

What about getting a new sump plug and using a tap to go up to the next thread size?

It will be something I have to sort out soon, as I know my thread is on the way out too.

there is nothing wrong with the plug as such...its the thread in the block thats at fault so if i did that the same problem will re-occur..if i put something in there with loctite thats harder than the crap they make the block out of with a thread for a bolt problem solved i reckon.

[ManDownUnder]

Find out about getting a helicoil or "recoil" put in.

Basically they drill the hole out, tap it to the next size up and screw in an insert which the original bolt wil screw back into. A kind of sleeve for the screw thread if you will.

Full details here. I've used 'em before (but not on sumps..) Strong as hell!

[98tls]

Find out about getting a helicoil or "recoil" put in.

Basically they drill the hole out, tap it to the next size up and screw in an insert which the original bolt wil screw back into. A kind of sleeve for the screw thread if you will.

Full details here. I've used 'em before (but not on sumps..) Strong as hell!

Great....exactly what i was after..cheers......just had a thought though..i will have to drain oil and get the bike to them..im guessing it could be done with motor still in bike.

[tl_tub]

At a guess id say the sump will just be made of aluminium (alloy?) like most other things. I am always guilty of over tightening bolts, but am getting better.
The manual says it shoud be tightened to 23nm/16.5lbft, im sure i probably go way past that figure when using a spanner.

I know i have seen large chunky thread inserts (steel) used in soft metals, but cant recall where ive seen it.
I actually have no suggestions at all. Let me know how you get on.

[ManDownUnder]

Great....exactly what i was after..cheers......just had a thought though..i will have to drain oil and get the bike to them..im guessing it could be done with motor still in bike.

Don;t know, but the drilling and tapping will push some Ali chips into the sump... they'd be best flushed out by the shop/whoever does it.

Best of all (and most $$$) would be removing sump from the bike to do it. It makes sense...

[T.W.R]

If the thread of the sump bung & the thread in the sump are OK and not damaged in any way why bother about heli coiling it ?

Why not just get a soft copper compression washer & slip that on to the sump bung, or a bag of them & just replace the washer each time you do an oil change, they can be annealed for re-use also. And add a couple of wraps of thread tape to the bung also.

Sump bungs are just like sparkplugs, the victims of over tightening when it ain't necessary

[98tls]

If the thread of the sump bung & the thread in the sump are OK and not damaged in any way why bother about heli coiling it ?

Why not just get a soft copper compression washer & slip that on to the sump bung, or a bag of them & just replace the washer each time you do an oil change, they can be annealed for re-use also. And add a couple of wraps of thread tape to the bung also.

Sump bungs are just like sparkplugs, the victims of over tightening when it ain't necessary

Will give that a go before doing anything else..cheers TWR...yep i am probably guilty of over tightening the thing...stupid really as i have a good torque wrench.

[scumdog]

Always use a couple of turns of thread tape on the last (outer) threads of sump plugs, works a treat. Fibre wahser would probably do as well.

Helicoil is no big deal with the sump on, I've flushed out sumps with diesel after the heli-coil goes in (dunno if it DID get all the swarf though!) but never had any problems.

[98tls]

Always use a couple of turns of thread tape on the last (outer) threads of sump plugs, works a treat. Fibre wahser would probably do as well.

Helicoil is no big deal with the sump on, I've flushed out sumps with diesel after the heli-coil goes in (dunno if it DID get all the swarf though!) but never had any problems.

At risk of a bit of jap bashing here but wtf...out of interest are the sumps on Harleys ie thread pretty soft as well.....?

[scumdog]

At risk of a bit of jap bashing here but wtf...out of interest are the sumps on Harleys ie thread pretty soft as well.....?

Well, me old Sporty had a steel oil-tank with steel plug (they run a dry-sump type system), newer Sporty had a rubber line that fits over a steel stud and clamps onto it via hose-clip so no problems there - just undo clip, point hose at drain-bowl.
The T-Sport? haven't looked yet!!!

[98tls]

i gotta mate with an old sporty...real nice one to....will have a look next time am around there...actually scumdog you may know him but shouldnt really post his name up....will bump into you sometime for sure..will ask then.

[terbang]

You would be surprised how little you are supposed to tighten those things and they are commonly overtightened. Torque it to the spec and lock wire it to allay any loosening paranoia.

[98tls]

Think you hit the nail on the head there mate....results would be disasterous.mind you in my case i have just been to lazy to get my torque wrench......