This week when i went to reinstall my aft drain plug (after a winter of various projects and cleaning/re-painting, etc), i found that the threads in the block had rusted up, and wouldn't happily take the plug. Kicking myself for not returning it as soon as the block was drained...
Sadly, the accessory drive is right in the way of the plug, and so i can't fit a tap in there. I searched and the shortest tap i could find is about two inches, and wont even come close. I think there's about an inch of clearance in there.
Went to remove the accessory drive, to find that the lower bolt below the pump housing is to rusted to even think of moving. Can't even get a vice grip to sit on the rounded bolt head, looks more like a stove bolt now and than a hex head. I could maybe try to force it, but i'd much rather leave well enough alone there.
So my question is - what are my other options? I cleaned the threads well as i could with a wire brush and pb blaster, and got the plug to seat in about an 1/4 inch, but it's slightly crooked and i know is not seated well in the threads. It threads in okay, but not nearly as well as i would like.
I'm thinking of
A - letting it be and keeping an eye on it. The drain hole is fairly plugged up with corrosion from the inside, and only dribbles water when draining, so there likely won't too much pressure in there to worry about. I don't plan on doing any long sails over the next few months, and can just see how it goes, though ultimately i'd like a solution i can trust a little more.
B - JB weld it shut. It only moderately works as a drain plug anyway, and i'm a liveaboard in a climate where i don't winterize (Seattle), so i doubt i'll ever need to fully drain the block. Plus i plan on switching to fresh water cooling within the next year.
Other options?
Thanks,
steve
Sadly, the accessory drive is right in the way of the plug, and so i can't fit a tap in there. I searched and the shortest tap i could find is about two inches, and wont even come close. I think there's about an inch of clearance in there.
Went to remove the accessory drive, to find that the lower bolt below the pump housing is to rusted to even think of moving. Can't even get a vice grip to sit on the rounded bolt head, looks more like a stove bolt now and than a hex head. I could maybe try to force it, but i'd much rather leave well enough alone there.
So my question is - what are my other options? I cleaned the threads well as i could with a wire brush and pb blaster, and got the plug to seat in about an 1/4 inch, but it's slightly crooked and i know is not seated well in the threads. It threads in okay, but not nearly as well as i would like.
I'm thinking of
A - letting it be and keeping an eye on it. The drain hole is fairly plugged up with corrosion from the inside, and only dribbles water when draining, so there likely won't too much pressure in there to worry about. I don't plan on doing any long sails over the next few months, and can just see how it goes, though ultimately i'd like a solution i can trust a little more.
B - JB weld it shut. It only moderately works as a drain plug anyway, and i'm a liveaboard in a climate where i don't winterize (Seattle), so i doubt i'll ever need to fully drain the block. Plus i plan on switching to fresh water cooling within the next year.
Other options?
Thanks,
steve
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