Updated Stripped allen head drain plug

[fisherman81654]

1985 mariner 175 hp Serial# A137316
I search through the fourms for an hour and found one guy had the same problem,wihout solving it,or he did not post the result.
I heated the area around the plug,and still I stripped it out.
Someone had said in a post to drill a new hole beside the other,then thread.
Is this the best solution?Or should I carefuly drill the old plug all the way through till fluid comes out and then tap to a bigger size plug?
I just finished replacing Orings and seal and I sure would like to flush the system.
Thanks....

 

[bigboi]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

what i would do is find a STAR head that is slightly bigger then the allen head hole then i would pound it in and try to losen the bolt if that doesnt work i would choose a star head i dont like or dont care for and if the equiptment is avalible weld the star head to the plug and try getting it out if it doesnt come out after that then i would take the route of drilling and tapping etc.. hope this helps

 

[Sprky]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Use a hammer and a punch to break it loose. Common practice.

 

[MercMan82]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

If you drill thru you can back it out with an ez out. Did this with my flush plug. Granted it was plastic and yours is metal, but it's the same application.

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

what i would do is find a STAR head that is slightly bigger then the allen head hole then i would pound it in and try to losen the bolt if that doesnt work i would choose a star head i dont like or dont care for and if the equiptment is avalible weld the star head to the plug and try getting it out if it doesnt come out after that then i would take the route of drilling and tapping etc.. hope this helps

Maybe, hammering in a starhead may work,as fars as weldind a starhead,I don't see anyway to be able to do that.The allenhead is on the trim/tilt unit,behind the anode at the bottom right.
I took off the anode,but the allen head screw is recessed in the Aluminium or cast block, somewhat.
There would be no way to get a ground and the allen head screw in only about an eighth inch in diameter.

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Use a hammer and a punch to break it loose. Common practice.

I have used that common practice many times,but I don't see how I could use it on this.
The allen head is recessed and its only an eighth inch in diameter.
To me,I would have to chip away some of the block,just to get a pinch or chisel to try to get it lose.Seems to me,that the allen head is too small for that approach?

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

If you drill thru you can back it out with an ez out. Did this with my flush plug. Granted it was plastic and yours is metal, but it's the same application.

Yes that approach may work,if the ez out didn't break off in it.

If it does break off,then what? Try to drill that out,maybe possible,but....

 

[Sprky]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

My Bad. I assumed lower unit when you said drain plug.

 

[ray914]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Torx head (star head) might help you. I've had some luck with left handed drill bits or Sears sells an extractor bit set, I've had a lot of luck with them also. You have got to put your drill in reverse and drill normally and 99% of the time it comes out.........

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

My Bad. I assumed lower unit when you said drain plug.

No problem I appericate the attempt to help.

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Torx head (star head) might help you. I've had some luck with left handed drill bits or Sears sells an extractor bit set, I've had a lot of luck with them also. You have got to put your drill in reverse and drill normally and 99% of the time it comes out.........

Left handed drill bit I didn't even know they made suxh a thing.
I just may try that,99%,that's pretty good odds.

 

[MercMan82]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

I'm sure they sell something in hex or starbit for an impact screwdriver. Thatd be the way to go right there but not for sure what all there is.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Left handed drill bits are great. when drilling out they usally create enough heat that the screw will back out. yes put the drill in reverse.

 

[aussieflash]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

LOL,you still on that TnT unit......so am I.Also had similar problem.I stripped the allen Plug on the shaft that holds main ram on.Did the ezy out method,worked fine.Didnt even know there was a drain plug.

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

LOL,you still on that TnT unit......so am I.Also had similar problem.I stripped the allen Plug on the shaft that holds main ram on.Did the ezy out method,worked fine.Didnt even know there was a drain plug.

Yeah I am still on it,,don't know if I will ever get it done.
I was gonna let it go for this year, cause I wana fish, put fluid in it and there was one more thing I had to do.

Drilled out the stanless steel bolts that I broke,:facepalm: so I could put on a new anode on the trim/TILT! That was easy,Except!, When I went to drill, uhhuh,I drilled the trim/tilt drain plug or if you want to call it the pressure test port,must be what its called,its putting a lot of PRESURE on me,I gotta slow down:facepalm:.
I went ahead and drilled out the other two broken bolts and threaded them,

I also threaded the drain plug and put a short bolt in it,But of course it leaks,a drop at a time.
The size of the hole is the same size of the anode bolts.
Now I got to figure out how to SEAL it:facepalm: I hope someone has the answer.The last thing I want to happen,is be going fifty miles an hour and drop the engine down and up an up and down.

 

[FLATHEAD MAC]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

THREAD SEALER SHOULD DO THE TRICK, OR FIND A TAPERED PLUG , IF YOU REPLACE THE STANLESS BOLTS(BROKEN) WITH STAINLESS BE SURE TO USE ANTISIEZE FOR LESS CHANCE OF BREAKING AGAIN IN FUTURE. CAN CHECK WITH MANUFACTOR ABOUT PLUG OR CHECK WITH ALMOST ANY HARDWARE STORE , LOWES HOMEDEPOT ECT. THAT HASE PLUMMING SUPPLIES GOOD LUCK

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

THREAD SEALER SHOULD DO THE TRICK, OR FIND A TAPERED PLUG , IF YOU REPLACE THE STANLESS BOLTS(BROKEN) WITH STAINLESS BE SURE TO USE ANTISIEZE FOR LESS CHANCE OF BREAKING AGAIN IN FUTURE. CAN CHECK WITH MANUFACTOR ABOUT PLUG OR CHECK WITH ALMOST ANY HARDWARE STORE , LOWES HOMEDEPOT ECT. THAT HASE PLUMMING SUPPLIES GOOD LUCK

10-4 On the antisieze.I bought some.
I thought about using an Oring on the bolt.The surface is flat where it would be compressed.
That would probaly work,but I can't use a lock washer,if I did then it would not seal around the Oring.I defenitly want it tight,and NOT work itself loose. Im not sure on what type of thread sealer to use.I don't want to drain the unit again.It has to be a sealant to work with transmission fluid.
Thanks...

 

[FLATHEAD MAC]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

o-ring might work ok, but might want to use a little BLUE LOCTIGHT on threads to insure bolt dosent back out due to vibrations.

 

[fisherman81654]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

o-ring might work ok, but might want to use a little BLUE LOCTIGHT on threads to insure bolt dosent back out due to vibrations.

If I did that,would the blue locktight set up, being mixed with the transmission fluid?

 

[MercMan82]

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

Re: Stripped allen head drain plug

If you tap npt and get a npt bolt or setscrew(npt is the tapered thread), it will seal perfect and you'll not have problems with orings. +1 on the blue loctite.