stripped drain plug

[gwcrim]

Thought I'd toss this out as a heads up.  I was about to install a Time Sert in my KLX450 and discovered something interesting.  The drain bolt is long, probably more than 1".  It threads most of the way into the cases and there are small ports about 1/4" up into the hole.  That means that if an insert of any kind is installed, the little ports would be blocked and not all of the oil will drain.  Or so it appears.  I'm going to chase the threads with a tap and put the drain bolt back in.  If the case threads were worse, I'd probably drill to a size bigger and retap entirely.

Ain't nothin' easy in my life.

[maddoggy]

i don't know the circumstances of the stripped hole, but you should always use a torque wrench to properly torque the drain plug to prevent overtightening. also a good skid plate will protect the plug a lot too. i'm sure you already know this stuff but thought i would throw it out thereas food for thought.

[gwcrim]

The hole wasn't stripped.  The bolt was difficult to remove and it didn't want to start to go back in so I ASSumed that it was stripped.  It looks to me that you'd really have to torque the living poop out of it to get it to actually strip.

I cut a slot in the bolt and it ran in pretty easily, though only so far.  I'll run a tap through it and slather it in anti seize and see how that works.

[ThrottleJunky]

Beware KXF owners! The length of the drain plug is more than twice as long as the actual threaded aluminum in the case.  Don't overtighten!  You don't have the threaded area in the case you think you have.

Just as gwcrim mentioned in his first post, there is no threads above the oil ports.  When the drain plug is tight in the case the end of the threads hangs out in the open case area.

[gwcrim]

From my examination, there are plenty of threads in the bottom of the cases to grab  that big ol' bolt.  I pity the fool that strips that baby!

[ThrottleJunky]

All it takes is for someone to be a bit overaggresive and cause a big problem!

[Fireypoop]

Or buy a kx500 that already has a stripped plug

[royceymon@hotmail.co.uk]

dont know if any kxf owners have tried this , as the small drain bung on the 250f is begging to be stripped i drilled the bolt and use locking wire after i hand tightend very carefully with a 8mm spanner and use blue hylomar on the thread so the bolt hasnt got to be so tight..
i always use stainless steel locking wire and havnt had any problems at all with either of the bungs!