November 1st, 2018, 01:34 PM | #1 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
Stripped drain plug threads
My new (2007) bike is now running and ready for an oil & filter filter change and oil screen cleaning. I knew the drain plug was likely damaged as it wouldn't tighten so I have a new OEM plug on hand.
I removed the drain plug and it turns out it was just held in place by blue Loctite. The new plug goes all the way in without even threading it, so clearly the case threads are stripped. I removed the oil filter in hopes that I could access the top of the drain opening through that big orifice in order to remove shavings from inside the case if I use a heli-coil type product, but no luck. I'm now considering just using teflon tape (safe up to 300 degrees)to create a seal and safety wiring the drain plug head in order to keep it from working itself loose. I know this is a ghetto solution but do I have any other reasonable options?
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
November 1st, 2018, 02:16 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Don't use teflon tape, it greatly reduces friction and your drain-plug will vibrate loose and fall off. If you really want to fill gap in loose & damaged threads, use something that's not quite so slick, like masking, duct or gaffer tape.
Many, many solutions to repair with longer-term results than tape... Here's an easy one... Piggyback bolt - bolt within a bolt |
|
November 1st, 2018, 02:28 PM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
|
J B Weld! Great stuff!
|
|
November 1st, 2018, 03:28 PM | #4 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
|
November 1st, 2018, 05:30 PM | #5 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
|
You should also consider changing to a Next Gen oil screen cover/drain plug that way you will never have to touch the motor drain plug again. I found mine used on ebay for less than $20.
__________________________________________________
"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
|
November 1st, 2018, 05:47 PM | #6 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
|
And I would Heli-coil or similar to repair the drain plug threads.
__________________________________________________
"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
|
November 1st, 2018, 07:22 PM | #7 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
Quote:
Very interested in learning more about this. Thanks.
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
|
November 1st, 2018, 07:23 PM | #8 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
Don't wanna go that route because I have no way to ensure I can get all the aluminum shavings out of the case after cutting into it with the heli-coil.
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
November 1st, 2018, 07:55 PM | #9 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
|
Go slow with heavy grease on tap to catch the shavings.
__________________________________________________
"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
|
November 1st, 2018, 08:00 PM | #10 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
|
Quote:
https://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/Changi...ver/drain_plug
__________________________________________________
"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
|
|
November 2nd, 2018, 02:40 PM | #11 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: AKA JacRyann
Location: Mesa, AZ
Join Date: Dec 2011 Motorcycle(s): CB125T CBR250R-MC19 CBR250RR-MC22 NSR350R-MC21 VF500F CBR600RR SFV650 VFR750F R1M ST1300PA Valkyrie-F6C Posts: A lot.
MOTY - 2018, MOTM - Nov '17
|
Helicoil works for permanent bolts that don’t get removed frequently, such as case or head bolts. But repeated use will have helicoil fall out. A permanent insert works much better. Such as bolt-in-bolt solution above, or next-size-up insert.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MEFKNX4 Note this is for autos. Find one with Njnjette threading. Time-sert, Ez-loks and other one-piece inserts always better than helicoil for most apllications |
|
November 2nd, 2018, 07:44 PM | #12 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
The plan
Today I bought an over-sized M12 drain plug and some JB Weld to use for the drain hole. I also ordered a used newgen oil screen pan, metal gasket and two long bolts.
I hope to JB weld the new drain plug in the next couple of days and allow it to cure while I wait for the oil screen parts to arrive in the mail. That's the plan, hopefully this will take care of it. I'll post a follow up with some photos once it's wrapped up. Thanks again for the assistance, guys!
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
November 3rd, 2018, 06:17 AM | #13 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
|
|
November 3rd, 2018, 07:47 AM | #14 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
I'm not willing to risk it. I'm calling that "Plan Z".
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
November 3rd, 2018, 03:46 PM | #15 |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
I recently helped my son put Timeserts in the four spark plug holes of his Ford Focus. We filled a cylinder with greased rope and used a greased tap on the hole. The tap came out with lots of chips on it. The rope then came out with lots of chips on it. Then I used a vacuum cleaner with a small wand I made to vacuum the rest of the chips out of the cylinder. Then we moved on to the other three, and the engine has been running fine for a few thousand miles.
Luckily the spark plug hole is in the top center of the cylinder so vacuuming was easy. |
|
November 4th, 2018, 11:59 AM | #16 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
That's pretty clever! Glad to hear it worked out.
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
|
November 5th, 2018, 12:09 PM | #17 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
|
The difference here is that in this situation gravity is your friend.
__________________________________________________
"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
|
November 14th, 2018, 08:28 PM | #18 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
Conclusion
My little saga has successfully come to completion so I thought I'd pass on the info in hopes it may help someone down the road.
I installed an "oversized" drain plug (when you buy it, get the EXISTING drain plug size which in my case is an M12). When installing it I tightened it about half way, then backed it out and cleaned out a tiny bit of shavings. I threaded it again, all the way, and removed it to clean out the threads again. I applied some Loc-Tite brand thread sealant (not thread locker) to the drain plug threads. It's white and somewhat resembles runny toothpaste. I then installed the plug and tightened it snugly. I then let it sit overnight. As for future oil changes I just installed a used oil screen cover from a newgen ($20 Ebay) along with a new metal gasket. I've put 95 miles on the bike now and it appears the oversized plug and thread sealant worked as I'd hope. Hope this helps someone in the future.
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
November 14th, 2018, 08:31 PM | #19 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Hector
Location: SoCal
Join Date: Sep 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250 Posts: 272
|
In the photo you can see the old drain plug which was held on only by Loc-Tite, the new OEM plug and the oversized plug in the middle.
__________________________________________________
When you see me, it's already too late. |
1 out of 1 members found this post helpful. |
November 15th, 2018, 06:55 AM | #20 | |
Guy Who Enjoys Riding
Name: Jim
Location: North Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2016 Motorcycle(s): Ninja 250 Posts: A lot.
MOTM - Oct '18, Aug '17, Aug '16
|
Quote:
I think the reason the greased tap method works so well is that most engines have full flow oil filters, so anything getting into the oil pump through the pickup screen is filtered out before being pumped to the bearings. The pump itself won't like the chips though. And maybe I'm wrong. I won't rely on that method being perfect though. |
|
|
November 15th, 2018, 02:03 PM | #21 | |
ninjette.org guru
Name: C
Location: Hawaii
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250 Posts: 472
|
Quote:
__________________________________________________
"It ended up being the loose nut behind the wheel" |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Header that blocks drain plug | wkiltz | General Motorcycling Discussion | 4 | May 6th, 2014 12:01 PM |
Magnetic drain plug for pregen? | Ninjinsky | 1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk | 2 | May 3rd, 2014 09:55 AM |
Oil Plug/Pan Stripped? | Nienu | 1986 - 2007 Ninja 250R Tech Talk | 11 | August 10th, 2013 04:27 PM |
Okay, so what's that OTHER drain plug for? | adouglas | 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk | 5 | August 23rd, 2009 07:18 PM |
Magnetic Drain Plug? | chess | 2008 - 2012 Ninja 250R Tech Talk | 3 | April 12th, 2009 07:14 PM |
|
|