Sump plug

[mangocrazy]

My 2000 Spider engine is currently bolted to an engine stand awaiting stripdown. The first thing to do is to dump the old oil, but I was frustrated in even this simple task by what appears to be a rounded oversize sump plug (I've left the last two oil changes to garages to do). I believe that the Beta sump plug takes a 12mm hex allen bit - is that correct? My 12mm bit is quite a sloppy fit in the plug and starts to twist in the plug rather than undoing when any real pressure is applied. In desperation I've ordered an Imperial 1/2" socket bit on the premise that the extra 0.5mm might give a more snug fit. I will of course be fitting a new sump plug when the rebuild takes place...

Any other suggestions?

[lanciamad]

If there's enough of the sump plug showing you might be able to get a pair of mole grips on it and give it a quick tap to get it moving

[dougdee123]

I had this happen with a ford. The other favoured trick is to weld a sacrificial socket on. Just a tack weld.

Or tack weld an allen key on.

Maybe a dollop of epoxy might do it.

D

[mangocrazy]

Yes, welding something onto it would work, I think. Unfortunately there's not enough of it showing to get decent purchase with mole grips. A sacrificial nut sounds favourite, I reckon. That's if the 1/2" AF hex socket doesn't work, of course.

Alternatively, as you say, clean it up, dollop of epoxy in the sump plug, hammer an allen key in and leave to set...

[mangocrazy]

In the end, I got the local garage (UK!) to weld a decent size nut to the sump plug, and a combination of expansion/contraction from welding and an unmolested nut to work with got the sump plug off without further difficulty. I'm now toying with the idea of fitting a Stahlbus oil drain valve to make future oil changes a lot simpler and less messy. The other option is to use a suction pump to remove the oil. Any caveats or preferences to either of these approaches?

[WestonE]

Hi Graham

I think I would just buy a new sump plug having checked the thread is sound and use the right hex key socket.

Eric 

[mangocrazy]

Probably the best way, Eric. The sump is off, has been gutted of the OE baffles and is now ready for some decent baffling to be welded in. I'll be picking Guy's brains when I see him on Thursday about that. I've also cleaned out the sump plug thread with an M22 x 1.5 tap, so hopefully we've got a sound base to start from.