Go Back   Vulcan Bagger Forums > Technical :: Maintenance :: Performance > 1500 & 1600 Nomad

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 04-02-2010, 07:31 PM   #1
taranis   taranis is offline
 
taranis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Grand Prairie, TX
Posts: 802
Stripped Oil Plug

Changed the oil yesterday using the standard oil drain plug. As the subj says, when I put the bolt and crush washer back in, it felt like the bolt was starting to strip.

Got the bike out today for a bath and sure enough, a small puddle of clean oil had formed under the bike overnight - maybe three tablespoon's full.

I know the drain plug is a 17mm, but I don't know the pitch. Gadget's site has a recommended fix using a 12mm, which I'm sure isn't right for the Nomads.

Anybody have some recommendations for a fix? Retrill and tap the hole for a new, larger plug? Or can I get a higher pitched, self-tapping boltt and crush washer and rethread it?

I have a group ride with friends tomorrow too - sure would hate to miss it.
__________________
_______________________



"Taranis" and the Lovely Ann
KawaNOW Oldschool #885
His: 2006 Nomad
Hers: 2008 VN900 Classic LT



Login or Register to Remove Ads
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2010, 08:15 PM   #2
josh   josh is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 221
Stripped Oil Plug

You can get a self tapping bolt and slllloooooowwwwwly thread it in while checking every turn or so to back it out and clean off any shavings, once you have it in LEAVE IT THERE and do all your oil changes via the oil screen hole, did this for 3 years on my 1500a and found not only did I not risk stripping out the drain plug but also it was cleaner to drain the oil into that way off the side stand
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2010, 08:18 PM   #3
taranis   taranis is offline
 
taranis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Grand Prairie, TX
Posts: 802
Stripped Oil Plug

Do I need to get a larger pitch of thread on the new bolt?
__________________
_______________________



"Taranis" and the Lovely Ann
KawaNOW Oldschool #885
His: 2006 Nomad
Hers: 2008 VN900 Classic LT
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2010, 09:31 PM   #4
josh   josh is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 221
Stripped Oil Plug

That I don't know, take the original to the auto parts store with you they will know
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2010, 09:37 PM   #5
macmac   macmac is offline
Sr. Contributor
 
macmac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600
Posts: 12,484
Stripped Oil Plug

Check the engine thread side....... The bolts are uncommonly soft made to shear and not take case threads with them. I can't say if the case threads are trash, since I can't see.

Clean the drain pan super well, and filter the same oil you put back.

Take whats left of the drain bolt and see if you must use a tappered self threading replacement . Never again use it. Use the screen drain from now on.
__________________

06 1600 Nomad
Just call me Mac
molon labe come and get it



Login or Register to Remove Ads
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-02-2010, 11:58 PM   #6
AlabamaNomadRider   AlabamaNomadRider is offline
Sr. Contributor
 
AlabamaNomadRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boaz, Alabama
Posts: 13,742
Send a message via AIM to AlabamaNomadRider Send a message via Yahoo to AlabamaNomadRider
Stripped Oil Plug

Is it possible no damage was done to the oil pan? You could always pick up another drain bolt and give it a try before you do the rethreading. If you can get another drain bolt fairly easily it would be worth a shot.
__________________

Gene Cross, Jr.
Boaz, Alabama
KawaNOW/VBA #1181
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2010, 08:24 AM   #7
macmac   macmac is offline
Sr. Contributor
 
macmac's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600
Posts: 12,484
Stripped Oil Plug

Yes Gene it IS possible the case is ok, it may need some thread chasing, the the bolt plugs are made weaker than the case for this reason.

It would be best if a oem plug can be used, and if not then a self tapper, never again used.

There are 2 ways to install these self tappers... The first way is to start it in after making sure it isn't going to be too tall inside the case, and then just wind it in dead straight.

The 2nd way is to grease it hard, fill the hollow and the cutters gaps, and install it and then remove it, to clean out the trapped chips in the slots and the hollow, reducing loose chips.

A self tapping bolt is going to be STEEL, not alloy.
__________________

06 1600 Nomad
Just call me Mac
molon labe come and get it
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2010, 08:15 PM   #8
zoom45   zoom45 is offline
Sr. Member
 
zoom45's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Terry, Mississippi
Posts: 1,434
Stripped Oil Plug

Mine stripped about 10 oil changes ago so I drilled it out and installed a heli-coil with a new bolt. I don't remember the size it was. I put the bike on my lift. It was tight to get enough room to keep the drill straight but it worked out great. I drilled slow and coated the bit with heavy grease to catch the shavings. I have never taken that bolt out since. I always use the side drain on the driver side. It drains better and you can pull the strainer out to clean too.
Zoom45
__________________

Bobby Risher
Terry, MS
Kawanow member # 124
South Central Group
2000 Nomad 1500 (carbed) 128,000 miles
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2010, 08:25 PM   #9
Cajunrider   Cajunrider is offline
 
Cajunrider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: (SE Louisiana)
Posts: 8,340
Stripped Oil Plug

I've never backed mine out and don't plan to. It's so much easier to use the screen plug and not as messy. I almost screwed up once when the o-ring fell off the plug into the pan of oil. Didn't notice it until I wiped the plug clean and attempted to apply fresh oil on it with my fingertip before screwing it back on. When I poured the used oil into my storage container, there was the o-ring sitting on the slanted surface. I did the same thing once with the metal gasket on the final drive plug. They do fall off really easy if you aren't careful when removing the plugs.
__________________


2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO
Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue
110 cu in SE

2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16)
Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange
Vance & Hines true dual headers
Rinehart 4" slip ons
Screamin Eagle Super Tuner
Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake
Dyno tuned
H.O.G.# 4514015

2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12)
VBA #482
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2010, 09:06 PM   #10
ndbigfish   ndbigfish is offline
Sr. Member
 
ndbigfish's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New Braunfels, Texas
Posts: 1,162
Stripped Oil Plug

I no longer have the stock plug. Functionally it went away years ago. The stock plug removed the threads from the case and left me with a hole. Unfortunately the auto parts folks couldn't help me, but Gadget did:

http://www.gadgetjq.com/stripped_oil_plug_thread.htm

I followed the above instructions and the plug has remained in place, without leaking, for several years. I use the oil screen plug for oil changes now.
__________________
Brik
VBA #1047
07 Electra Glide Ultra (43,300 & counting)
03 Nomad - 37,972 (traded 5/6/13)
99 Nomad - Only a memory since 4/27/13
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-03-2010, 09:27 PM   #11
AlabamaNomadRider   AlabamaNomadRider is offline
Sr. Contributor
 
AlabamaNomadRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boaz, Alabama
Posts: 13,742
Send a message via AIM to AlabamaNomadRider Send a message via Yahoo to AlabamaNomadRider
Stripped Oil Plug

Taranis, did you solve your problem? I certainly hope you were able to just replace the drain bolt. If you had to rethread I hope it was a success. Before I finished and put that drain plug in I would run a small magnet around in the hole to pick up any metal threads. A little flexible magnet would do the trick.

Ndbigfish, thanks for posting the link for replacing the drain bolt. I am sure others will one day have this problem and it will be a big help.
__________________

Gene Cross, Jr.
Boaz, Alabama
KawaNOW/VBA #1181
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2010, 09:04 AM   #12
taranis   taranis is offline
 
taranis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Grand Prairie, TX
Posts: 802
Stripped Oil Plug

Sorry about not getting back to this thread until now, but wanted everyone to know I did... uhhh.. fix the problem.

The auto parts store here could not help with a new or slightly oversized plug. I was looking for a 17mm x 1.50mm self-tapping plug, but no luck. I got back under there and took a good long look for where the leak was coming from and found that the crush washer had also split along one side - the bolt was spinning in the threads too, so I had a double-whammy.

When I pulled the bolt out, it came out with a piece of case thread, so I knew they were trashed. The bolt itself was fine.

In the end, I used some JBWeld epoxy around the bolt that set and cured in 1 hour. Came back out and still had the slightest oil residue, so I roughed up the first layer with a wire brush and put a second layer on that completely capped the bolt. Stuck a piece of packing paper under the bike and went to bed.

Came out the next morning and the packing paper was clean and there was no oil residue on the plug. So I tossed a couple quarts of oil in the saddlebags and my socket set, then headed off for a ride yesterday. 57 miles highway miles later, I pulled in for gas and took a look. No leaks! Went the rest of the day, a total of 350 miles, without a problem.

I can say with conviction that the drain bolt is ON THERE now. That JBWeld is solid stuff. And I can guarantee I won't be using that bolt anymore either.. heh.

The correct fix would've been to retap the threads, of course, then never use that bolt again, but I chickened out. Never did it before, and don't want to learn on my bike.

Thanks everyone for the advice.
__________________
_______________________



"Taranis" and the Lovely Ann
KawaNOW Oldschool #885
His: 2006 Nomad
Hers: 2008 VN900 Classic LT
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2010, 09:42 AM   #13
ghettocruiser   ghettocruiser is offline
Jr. Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Long Island NY
Posts: 21
Stripped Oil Plug

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but I would ask that you do a more permanent fix. JB weld is some great stuff, but I would not trust it to hold the life blood of your engine.It was good enough for a temp. fix so you could enjoy the ride with friends, but a better fix is called for.
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2010, 11:25 AM   #14
taranis   taranis is offline
 
taranis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Grand Prairie, TX
Posts: 802
Stripped Oil Plug

Can't argue that. I've used JBWeld on other motors before and it's held up well enough over the years. I have plent of other short local rides planned so I'm going to take the wait & see approach for now. I expect that if it does start leaking again, it will be a very slow drip and I'll catch it. Since the bolt is still in and relatively tight, that's the most it can do even if the entire application of epoxy falls off - a worst case scenario.

In time I may take th epoxy off and have the case retapped properly. We will see.
__________________
_______________________



"Taranis" and the Lovely Ann
KawaNOW Oldschool #885
His: 2006 Nomad
Hers: 2008 VN900 Classic LT
 
Reply With Quote
Old 04-04-2010, 02:11 PM   #15
AlabamaNomadRider   AlabamaNomadRider is offline
Sr. Contributor
 
AlabamaNomadRider's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Boaz, Alabama
Posts: 13,742
Send a message via AIM to AlabamaNomadRider Send a message via Yahoo to AlabamaNomadRider
Stripped Oil Plug

Glad you have it fixed. Just check it ever so often to make sure there are no leaks.
__________________

Gene Cross, Jr.
Boaz, Alabama
KawaNOW/VBA #1181
 
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
stripped the oil plug cliff1600 1500 & 1600 Nomad 49 01-03-2015 02:09 PM
oil drain plug bugman 1500 & 1600 Nomad 8 05-28-2011 05:09 PM
Stripped oil Drain Plug Fix ringadingh Engine 0 04-06-2011 04:14 PM
Oil fill plug krash 1500 & 1600 Nomad 21 04-12-2010 11:37 PM
Oil plug drip anyone? xncrman Vulcan Nomad/Vaquero/Voyager 11 04-11-2010 10:05 PM



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.2
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.