Stripped oil drain-Help

[duheme]

I was just finishing up on my 550. I had an oil leak and I found it. The threads for the oil drain plug are stripped out on the engine. Is there a repair type piggy back plug? Helicoil kit? What? HELP!!!

[Steve]

Just go to your local AutoZone, Shuck's, Checkers, whatever you have, and get an oversize plug.
You are looking for a 14mm x 1.25 in a Plus 1 oversize.
It will cut its own threads, no need to remove anything from the bike.

.

[sharpy]

Ill just go the the wreckers and get a good sump. putting a heli-coil or plug in it might raise the drain level and you wont get all ure oil out in the future

[BassCliff]

Hi,

I agree with Mr. Steve. Oversize drain plug, ratchet it in, ride with no worries. Don't forget a crush washer.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[chef1366]

The first time you thread in the oversized tap grease the threads well so you don't get metal shavings in the motor.

[kyscootertrash]

Drain Fix

The oversize plug works well, or you can try this.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=858412#post858412

[duheme]

Bought the oversized plug this morning. Thanks guys. I should have remebered about them.

[zathros]

When you use the greased oversize plug. Take it out and clean out any aluminum shavings.

[mainfr4me]

I'm having some trouble at my local places finding the 14mm x 1.25. A couple say they have 14mm x 1.5 in the oversize, but that's a coarser thread correct?

I have a feeling that should work as well, but figure I would ask the mega-brain of GS Resources first.

[twiggy2cents]

that would be very hard on the threads as it would cut/bend/grind them to fit, what the oversize is is the same pitch just a tiny bit bigger to cut the threads deeper.

[mainfr4me]

Well poop. Hopefully I'll find an online resource for one with the proper thread then - anyone have a suggestion?

EDIT:
Called around a couple places in the area, and so far no one has the 14mm x 1.25 in any oversize, which stinks. The only thing anyone has is the 14mm x 1.5 in oversize (called NAPA, Advance Auto, 2x Auto Zone, Ace Hardware, True Value, local Suzuki dealer, local used bike dealer). There has to be some place online that it can be found at... Either way, I did pick up the 14mm x 1.5 just in case.

[Steve]

I did pick up the 14mm x 1.5 just in case.

If you use that plug, please remind me not to buy your bike.

By using a different pitch thread, you will be cutting ACROSS the threads, weakening the whole assembly.
If you can't find the proper plug, let me know, I can get one and send it to you.

.

[atchbo]

I had the same problem on my 'new to me' bike. I used the helicoil, but I'm not impressed with them. The whole helicoil wanted to come out when the bolt is tight, so I decided to locktite the helicoil in place. Aluminium threads suck. I haven't changed the oil since, but expect that I'll have issues in future.

Does anyone know if the sump cover is the same size across GS models?

[mainfr4me]

If you use that plug, please remind me not to buy your bike.

By using a different pitch thread, you will be cutting ACROSS the threads, weakening the whole assembly.
If you can't find the proper plug, let me know, I can get one and send it to you.

.

Hell, that sounds like a better idea. I've called 3 more places in the area an no luck. Must be something with SE Wisconsin :P

Also why I end up buying most of my parts online anyways.

[Gary Lich]

To fix my stripped plug problem I drilled a hole in center of the oversized plug and tapped it with a straight machined thread (don't recall the thread size) then used a flanged socket cap bolt with a copper washer to plug the hole. During oil changes I leave the oversized plug in and just remove the bolt. It takes a little bit longer for the oil to drain from the smaller hole but there are no worries about stripping the drain plug hole again...