The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: BooG on January 27, 2009, 05:26:36 PM

Title: Driveshaft drain plug
Post by: BooG on January 27, 2009, 05:26:36 PM
The thread has gone, I'm assuming on the aluminium case thread, on the driveshaft drain plug. Tried grabbing and pulling it (with vice grips),whilst turning, but that sucker turns and shows no willing to unscrew out. Any good ways of addressing this? Helicoiled the rocker center stud holes today. Great success! Should have done it years ago! Only took 25mins.
Title: Re: Driveshaft drain plug
Post by: Rob Valdez 79 R65 on January 27, 2009, 05:35:28 PM
The first, and easiest suggestion would be to make some kind of forked tool to get behind the head to apply pressure whilst turning.


The other - weirder idea, would be to use some metal epoxy putty to temporarily glue something on the head that you could grab while turning.


That's all I could come up with.  Sorry.
Title: Re: Driveshaft drain plug
Post by: beemer on January 28, 2009, 05:47:22 AM
You may be abe to weld another bolt to the head using low current mig welder,then pull it out?.J.
Title: Re: Driveshaft drain plug
Post by: chopper_harris on January 28, 2009, 05:24:14 PM
You should obtain :

a, paint scraper or
b, thin bladed knife or
c, fish slice
d, an assistant

Work the blade into the gap between sump and plug (gently twist the plug fore/back if required).

Have your assistant apply a downward pressure on the blade, whilst you unscrew the plug with a hex socket and wrench.
It may take a few attempts, but once you get a bite, it will unscrew without issue.

Unless the sump thread is completely knackered, two copper sealing rings and a few turns of white PTFE tape should do the trick.

The sump plug is usually not threaded all the way along, and the lost threads adjacent to the plug head are where it loses grip.

A helicoil is the only long term fix  ;)
Title: Re: Driveshaft drain plug
Post by: Justin B. on January 28, 2009, 09:43:27 PM
Ya know, I'm somewhat curious if one of the "repair" oil drain plugs would work on something like this.  I remember using one many years ago on a V-8 oil pan that had the plug hole stripped.  It was just slightly oversized and cut it's own threads...