Over tightened the drain bolt today and ripped the thread out of the oil pan. Bolt tightens a little bit but any more and it just keeps spinning. No leaks but it will need sorting Thinking helicoil the sump... Problem is I can't take a day off work so I need to source a new gasket and helicoil on a Sunday. Any advice? Getting this done tomorrow sounds impossible. Not sure if I can risk riding it. Torque wrench in future me thinks.
Don’t want to worry you, but are you sure you’ve only striped the thread out and not cracked the casing :doh: well worth checking before you go any further, if its cracked it will need welding if it’s just the thread striped :sweat: then you have a choice of either Helicoil it, or drill and tap it to the next size up :thumbup:
Mine cracked the casing when I did this... give it a good look over Sent from my Galaxy Tab2 on the bog
No visible cracks and didn't feel anything go pop. Bolt is now weeping. Going to smother it with silicone as a temporary fix until I can get it retapped next weekend. Any objections in the court before I go for it? NEED the bike on the road this week so I need a solution in the next 36 hours.
PTFE seems to have held it up to 74C... with silicone as a final touch I reckon I'll survive the week keeping an eye on it. What you guys reckon as a final solution? New sump? Tap a bigger thread? Helicoil? Thread is pretty big... About 13mm not sure how this will affect options?
Apparently car sumps go between £30 and £50 but for an xj6 I'm looking a few hundred? That can't be right it's only an aluminium bowl...
hmmm. im guessing that it will be a metric fine thread. which to be honest ive never seen a coil kit for? ill have a browse. what i would suggest is try to find out what other bikes share that engine, and try to source one used.
If you can find the thread size and pitch ill have a look at work. Pretty certain ive got 14mm x 1.25 pitch heli's as thats the vauxhall sump plug size.
This might not be the right size - just an example: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sump-Plug-Oil-Drain-Repair-Kit-M14-M15-Thread-6pc-set-kit-AT330-/121053417011?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c2f588e33&nma=true&si=%252Bjc2D%252Bm07Q1f86XeJScxc1UcuWI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
can you measure the plug? according to ebay (maybe not the best) its an M14 x 1.5 thread. buy a kit. try to fix. buy a new sump gasket too (you will be removing the sump to fix it?) if your not confident ring a few local engineering places. someone will do it. it may still weep though. worth a go before new sump time
That's what happened to mine... on old bike, I got to correct torque then as I got up I use the wrench as a helping hand... haha
Hmm that doesn't say anything about the pitch...I'm guessing that would work on any M14 thread (even if the pitch is 1.25 or 1.5 etc) Will try to find the official size now.
it will have a metric thread - m12 or something. you will probably get away with putting an imperial bolt in, AF or whitworth, whatever, with a coarser thread. tbh if youre not sure what youre doing youre better letting someone else do it or you might cabbage it proper. dont mean to be a cunt like but this is pretty basic stuff lol! you cant swing on a thread going into an ally casting.
If you used a copper washer that get crushed as you tighten the bolt you can gauge by sight as well as feel plus mark the bolt with a marker before you in do it As you replace it alone the marks up then begin to tighten Or you can use a soft plastic washer this take the stress before you rip the threads only a few quid to buy Good luck btw
Used a copper washer but it just didn't feel like the bolt was very tight, so I gave it a little more and as I saw the washer squash a little it just slipped and thread was gone lol. I know it is basic stuff but I want it done right. Just lots of people telling me different things and no good source of what size the bolt is. Can't measure the bolt because that'd mean draining the oil again.
if it was my bike and i wanted a quick fix i would get the sump welded with no hole and use the time till the next oil change to find a replacement sump.. i have a buddy who can weld it for you if it helps
or if you really need it helicoiling i have a ful set at work but cant do it til monday. also got loads of taps so may be able to cut a bigger thread. you'll have to get the sump off though or youll get swarf and shit in it.
