Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

[Grant Brown]

1993 4.3 Mercruiser Alpha 1 Gen II.
When I was winterizing it (10:00 pm the night I bought it in 5 degree temps and snowing), I broke off the port side brass drain plug in the manifold riser. The threaded portion is still stuck in the riser.
1) How do I get it out? I was thinking of heating the manifold near it and then trying an easy out.
2) Would you guys replace all the other plugs too? None of them are broken but they might be fatigued...

Thanks,
Grant

 

[mthieme]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

If you decide to use heat....bring the temperature up slowly. Cast iron does not like drastic temperature changes.

The other option is drill it out. Brass is soft. Clean up the threads and replace.

I would check the others as long as you were at it.

 

[bpmcl00]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

heat may be a bad idea. Go ahead and soak it with PB blaster, that wont hurt either.

If you have a dremel that would probably help too. just be carefull with whatever you do.

next time just pull the hose at the bottom of the riser.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

Brass cuts easy, start small and progress up but stop before you get into the threads, use a small pin punch and collapse whats left of the brass and spin it out, I've had great succuess with that technique.
When you put those plugs back in, DO use brass again, and remeber it a taper thread you don't have to crane on them, just snug thats it.

 

[10 FOOT INVADER]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

When I had that happen, I just ran a tap into the brass that was left. Tapped and put a little thread sealer on a bolt and tighten it down. Has not leaked yet. Gets pulled out regularly for drainage and cleaning.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

I don't have a tap big enough after I drilled it out (dumb mistake) so I grabbed a bolt slightly smaller than the hole, and used JB Weld to hold it in.
Any reason why it wouldn't hold? I've used the stuff on head bolts before and it seemed to work well.

Grant

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

It MIGHT hold. But why not do as a70eliminator suggests and drill it out almost completely and use a punch to collapse the brass and back it out. OR since it sounds like you already have done the bolt / JB Weld combo - maybe you can back it out with the glued in bolt?

Your call of course, but if it were mine I would want the peace of mind of installing something that I wouldn't have to question.

 

[coastalcruiser]

Re: Broken Brass Drain Plug on Riser

get a easy out. soak it with penatrating oil again and again tap the easy out in and I bet it will come. if all else fails carfully drill it so your close to the thread (in the center) then buy a tap they are not that much