Replacing oil pan (sump)

[MBanks]

I recently stripped the hell out of my oil drain plug during an oil change and have temporarily solved the problem with a universal expanding rubber drain plug. However, I am interested in replacing the entire pan, as i am worried i may get metal debris if I tap the bolt. Would an oil pan from any GS work for my '82 GS 850GL, or should do i need one from only a 850?

[Nessism]

Get an oversized drain plug from the auto parts store. They are self tapping and lots of members here have had success with them.

[Steve]

I am one of "those members" that has had success with oversize plugs. (Twice)

A whopping $2.99 or so for the 14mm +1 drain plug at Auto Zone.

While I had the luxury of already having the drain pan off at the time, by putting some grease on the new plug, you can catch any shavings in the grease, then simply wash them off and re-install the plug. Use a new gasket.

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[MBanks]

I am going to try and use an oversized plug tomorrow, but am still curious about the drain pan? would any GS do, or only an 850?

[Steve]

..., but am still curious about the drain pan? would any GS do, or only an 850?

A wise man once said:

Give a man a fish, he will eat for today. Teach him to use the Internet, he will leave you alone for a LONG time.

Therefore ... go to Babbitt's, look up the part number for your drain pan. You will find that it is hiding on the "Oil Pump - Oil Filter" fiche, and is part number 11511-45300. Copy that number. Go back to the Babbitt's home page, paste that into the Quick Part Lookup search on the right side of the page. You will then see that the pan that fits your bike only fits other 850s, from '80-'83. Apparently the '79 model is different.

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[MBanks]

Ok, thanks both you guys, will try the oversize bolt thing tomorrow after class, daylight permitting!

[MBanks]

Ok, put an oversized bolt in last night, no oil stain this morning. Thanks for the advice!

[bwringer]

If you were going to install a pan from another GS850, it wouldn't make any sense to install it without first putting in a solid thread insert (it's the same thread as a spark plug -- 14mm diameter X 1.25mm pitch -- so it's easy to find inserts).

These all strip out at some point, and if you look at a drain pan from the inside, it's easy to see why. There's very little aluminum there.

So anyway, it wouldn't be any more work to just remove your original pan, install an insert (or have one installed at a good machine shop) and put that back on. No reason to buy another pan.

But for now, don't worry about it -- the oversized drain plug should last many years.