| Author |
Message |
    
Jetmech83
| | Posted on Friday, August 19, 2011 - 10:13 pm: | 
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I have 07 lightning XB9 and was changing the oil today. I pulled the drain plug and the aluminium threads from the swingarm came out with it. The plug threads are fine. It looks like it was over-torqued. Now how do I repair this? Oversize with a ream and tap it, or can you put a helicoil in and use the same plug. I hope I don't need a whole new swing arm. I'm going to go to the Harley shop tomorrow to see what they say. Has anyone have had this problem before? |
Terrys1980
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 08:42 am: |
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It's actually quite common. I don't get why some use a torque wrench to torque a oil drain plug anyhow and if you do you shouldn't go over 20 ft lbs. When you have a torque wrench with an 18" handle you don't realize how tight your putting it.
Helicoil will work if properly installed. |
Reepicheep
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 09:35 am: |
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I tried the helicoil on a friends SV650, and he has since had a hard time keeping it from dripping a little.
Not to disagree with Terry, we are probably saying the same thing, but I tried to be careful and get the heli coil in there right and it still leaked. So going up a size and tapping into clean aluminum without the heli-coil is probably a more reliable approach... less ways to screw it up. |
Terrys1980
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 10:14 am: |
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Reepi, did you use any teflon tape or other thread sealant?
Considering the plug is NPT or tapered thread, you could drill and tap to bigger size. Then thread in a reducer then a plug. That way you will have something to hold backup on when tightening and loosening the plug.
I attached a couple pictures for reference. We use a lot of these fittings at work offshore.
5/8" to 1/2" reducer and 1/2" plug.
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Reepicheep
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 01:43 pm: |
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I did Terry, but the owner didn't bother, which I am sure is a factor in the leak. It would be nice to not have to bother with it.
Those thread reducing plugs look perfect. Just need one of them, and the right tap. |
Harleyelf
| | Posted on Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 05:35 pm: |
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Stick with the same thread pitch and you won't need to ream - more meat for the new threads. |
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