Whats the EASIEST way to fix a stripped oil drain plug

[250Eddie]

Ok so i was attempting on doing an oil change on my sisters 87 250sx and i come to find out that the guy that had it last had stripped where the plug goes and he tryed to put a diff plug w/o tapping it the right way and he screwed it up, so now the plug i have that was on the bike dont fit it and a friend of mine told me to use a rubber plug, so i dont know if that will work right or not.
Any help will be awesome.

[Scootertrash]

I wouldn't use a rubber plug. The easiest and cheapest thread fix is a heli-coil. The Timesert is another fix that, from what I've read, is better than a helicoil but I've never used one(yet). Timeserts are a bit more expensive than a helicoil kit. The last resort would be redrill and tap for a completely diferent size drain plug, but only if the threads are so messed up they are not repairable.

Helicoil kits are available at NAPA and the like, usually around 40 bucks. Timesert kits run about 100 bucks. Maybe you can find a member in your area who will help you fix your threads?

[Taiser]

My 250r has a stripped plug as well. Helicoil is the way to go, but in the mean time you can put teflon tape around the bolt threads and it should hold for a bit just don't tighten it too hard...of course that depends how bad the threads are in the first place.

Never seen a "timeserts" kit, might have to check into that...

[TatTooL23]

Easiest is NOT the best. Question should be how much does the trike mean to u or how much do u like doing rebuilds.

Come on keep these things alive, do it right. Also think of re-sale value and what someone might think if u were to ever sell it. I know if I was buying a trike, quad, go cart, dirt bike or whatever, if I look at the bottom of the motor and c a rubber plug..... Uhhh yeah red flag goes up and I wonder what else is hacked cobbed or half assed. Cuz if u can do that there, then the smaller issues will definitely not be taken care of correctly.

[Scootertrash]

My 250r has a stripped plug as well. Helicoil is the way to go, but in the mean time you can put teflon tape around the bolt threads and it should hold for a bit just don't tighten it too hard...of course that depends how bad the threads are in the first place.

Never seen a "timeserts" kit, might have to check into that...

The bad thing about teflon tape is that if the htreads are bad enough the plug could vibrate out and then you have REAL problems.

Tattool23 is right: Do it right the first time!!

[jb2wheels]

Check auto parts stores for oversize drain plugs. I've used them before. Not the best way but fairly easy and better than a rubber plug.

[three_wheelin45]

mines stripped also... i just rap like half a thing of teflon tape on there and shes good to go ;) everytime i buy new oil i gota buy a roll of telfon tape :lol:

[sledcrazyinCT]

The oversize drain plugs will cut new threads into the drain plug hole as you screw it in the first time. That would be the easiest least rigged way to fix your sister's ATC

[Dirtcrasher]

Although a timesert is a more self locking insert, I've never had an issue with helicoils and I've used them in numerous drain plugs. If you have to buy a kit anyway, there may not be any more than 20$ in price difference to get a timesert kit. Plan on spending 50-70$ to repair this and a new plug. If you don't fix it right, you could have bigger issues down the line.

Put grease on the drill/tap and tools and keep cleaning them off, then I'd flush with a little diesel to be sure it was clear.

[TatTooL23]

i have 4 more Time-Sert inserts. they r 12mm by 1.5 thread pitch. i think the drain plugs r the same on the '80's honda trikes. i could be wrong though. i would be willing to sell an insert and the use of the kit for the install for $30 then $5 to ship it. when u finish the install just ship back the kit to me. then its fixed properly and its less then buying the $100 kit i bought and less then a heli-coil.

just an option, throwing it out there to help out.

[bobotech]

Why is it a bad thing just to drill out the hole to the next bigger size and tap it with bigger threads for a bigger drain plug? That seems to be the easiest way. Drill out the bad, cut new threads with tap, and put new larger plug in place and call it good.

[MonkOFox]

Yep, just tap a bigger screw hole that will fit a 2 liter bottle
screw top. Then you'll have the hole plugged and can use twice as much oil!

[3Razors]

Why is it a bad thing just to drill out the hole to the next bigger size and tap it with bigger threads for a bigger drain plug? That seems to be the easiest way. Drill out the bad, cut new threads with tap, and put new larger plug in place and call it good.

Its not bad, but in the end you still have a steel bolt going into aluminum threads which after time are prone to wear out depending on how much use and torque is on the bolt. The hole that you drill for the timesert insert is smaller than that of a helicoil which keeps more metal for strength in the case. Timesert is a FULL steel sleeve that has a countersunk lip and tappered end threads which locks it in place making it impossible for it to work its way into the bottom end which helicoils are known to do. I used helicoils for years but after using timesert its a superior product, no question. Its a permanet repair that you will never have to mess with again, and in the end be better than new.

[Scootertrash]

Why is it a bad thing just to drill out the hole to the next bigger size and tap it with bigger threads for a bigger drain plug? That seems to be the easiest way. Drill out the bad, cut new threads with tap, and put new larger plug in place and call it good.

For me it's like this: How many times can you drill it to the next size? A proper fix on the original hole will give you the option drill it out later-if needed. I never do more than I have to to do a PROPER repair, you may need the options later.

[Dirtcrasher]

Why is it a bad thing just to drill out the hole to the next bigger size and tap it with bigger threads for a bigger drain plug? That seems to be the easiest way. Drill out the bad, cut new threads with tap, and put new larger plug in place and call it good.

Well what would you like, 9/16ths, 5/8ths?? 14MM? usually when you get that big, it's a coarse thread. There all steel on aluminum, but repaired, they a fine pitch for such a large sized thread. Not many people have taps laying around or the bolts to match....... Your suggestion ranks up there with a self tapping or rubber plug.

[bobotech]

Well what would you like, 9/16ths, 5/8ths?? 14MM? usually when you get that big, it's a coarse thread. There all steel on aluminum, but repaired, they a fine pitch for such a large sized thread. Not many people have taps laying around or the bolts to match....... Your suggestion ranks up there with a self tapping or rubber plug.

Well maybe its because I'm biased but if I need to fix something like a drain plug, I would measure the currently and bring it to my local machine shop supply house and buy the proper tap and drill (about 10 bux total) and get a fine pitch thread obviously. Almost all cities/towns have some sort of machine shop supply house that you can get tools from.

So no, my idea is FAR from a rubber plug and quite a bit better than a self tapper (which could get jammed in there as well). I don't just grab some 9/16s random tap and go to town of course.

[Dirtcrasher]

10$ for a drill and tap? Maybe a junk carbon steel tap..... I just paid 18$ for an 8MM x 1.25 HSS tap alone. The proper drill and tap are to repair it back to OEM specs and use the OEM bolt. Time to drive to a shop, time to cut down your own bolt. IMO, it's not worth my time to upsize it unless I have to.........

I can't stand metric and american threads on one machine and I can't stand fastners welded instead of repaired.

His best bet is to take advantage of Tattools offer but you guys can all do whatever your little heart desires :beer

[bobotech]

10$ for a drill and tap? Maybe a junk carbon steel tap..... I just paid 18$ for an 8MM x 1.25 HSS tap alone. The proper drill and tap are to repair it back to OEM specs and use the OEM bolt. Time to drive to a shop, time to cut down your own bolt. IMO, it's not worth my time to upsize it unless I have to.........

I can't stand metric and american threads on one machine and I can't stand fastners welded instead of repaired.

His best bet is to take advantage of Tattools offer but you guys can all do whatever your little heart desires :beer

Its aluminum, not steel so a normal carbon steel tap should be fine. And the ones I get at Bixby are HSS as far as I know. I do grant you that the tap that large will cost probably closer to 10-15 dollars since I usually buy smaller ones. I'm just cheap and will do what I can that will work as good as original hence i won't do rubber drain plugs but oversizing the drain plug with a bigger plug with legit new threads is fine for me. Will work just as good as OEM albeit the bigger drain plug.

I'm just trying to suggest to the guy that there are cheaper reasonable options out there if he doesn't mind doing the work on his own and having a bigger drain plug.

[ktmbk]

If you can find one - another option is a self tapping transmission drain plug. They have a smaller bolt on the bottom of them and make it so you put the plug in once then use the smaller bolt or plug to change your fluid as needed (think of it as drain plug with a smaller drain plug in it). It will take a little longer to drain out the oil with the smaller hole. I figured I would through out another option for you.

[lazybiker79]

I just had that problem with my kx500 motor I used a helicoil to fix it, $20. at the auto parts store. It took 5 min to fix. Good luck man

[Deere]

My preferred way is timesert. It is the best and most reliable way to permanently fix the problem. You cannot strip it out, and I did that for my 85 250sx.

Never a problem again. Helicoils can only take so much pressure, and will eventually fail over repeated use, and certainly will if it is overtightened

[zzmegad]

yep, hit up Tatool, your best bet. I will stand by Helicoils and say that they are a strong quality product that will last just about forever but as 3Razors said they could work there way into the bottom end over time, so in a thru hole application not the best choice. Helicoil kits from napa run close to $50 last time I checked. So to do the best job for the best price Tatool23 is the man. Make sure you get all the chips from the drilling and tapping out of the tranny using methods listed above.

[250Eddie]

what ima do before having tattoo send me his kit, Ill call my friends dad and ask him if he has any heli's or timeserts hes been working on cars and trans for over 20 years and has ALOT of tools and diff things if he does ill take the bike to him and have him help me put one in and fix it up. If not ill just tap it out so i dont have to spend to much time on it the motor is gonna be taken apart soon anyhow my sister needs to get ALL new seals the engine leaks from every corner but thats what you get when u pay 600 bucks for something on CL that they normally sell for 1200 sigh.