transmission drain plug is stuck

VFR750 · 04-10-2005, 01:07 PM

I tried to change the transmission fluid yesterday, and I could not get the drain plug out.

My question is: Is it OK to use an impact wrench??

915 Tranny, Previous owner changed the fluid about 4 years ago. The manual says to torque to 24 N-m which is not that tight.

Dionikes · 04-10-2005, 01:19 PM

Dude, I was in your shoes yesterday...except I got the drain plug out but could not get the fill plug out. The glory of a steel plug in an housing.

What a guy that was helping me ended up doing it taking a center punch to the outer edge and pounding it until the impact created enough torque to get it moving. Of course, I already have a new plug on order and did not tighten either very tight.

randywebb · 04-10-2005, 01:22 PM

Spray Kroil or other penetrant on it and Forget about the drain plug for now. WD-40 is not a penetrant, BTW.

Now see if the filler plug is stuck. That is the imp. one.

Do a search while you wait and you will find many threads on this. Read a while, then go out and tap on the plug(s), spray more Kroil...

Repeat this every hour for a day or two. If it is still stuck, you will have a lot of info on other things to try.

ausgezeichnet · ausgezeichnet's Garage

PB Blaster (several applications over time) and heat worked for me. Good luck.

DonMo · DonMo's Garage

PB Blaster, a long breaker bar and if needed a jack to hold the socket in place. I had to drill and use an easyout on mine, the story was painful and involved boroscopes and remote tools to get the plug magnet out of the tranny housing. Procede cautiously.

afterburn 549 · 04-10-2005, 03:06 PM

all else fails "heat "will do the trick

VFR750 · 04-10-2005, 03:50 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by randywebb
[B]Now see if the filler plug is stuck. That is the imp. one.

I figured! Getting fluid back in is more important than getting it out. ;-)

The filler plug came out after I used a dead-blow hammer on the wrench handle. Very awkward when the car is on jack stands and you don't have much room. I tried the same approach to the drain plug and nothing budged. That is why I asked about the impact wrench. (bigger hammer)

Thanks for the tip on the other threads. I can see that this is a common problem.

afterburn 549 · 04-10-2005, 05:31 PM

Did I mention "HEAT"??????????/

randywebb · 04-10-2005, 05:41 PM

I think I'd stay away from air impact for a while. It'll come out. You may or may not need a torch.

Be sure the internal hex is cleaned out well...

afterburn 549 · 04-10-2005, 06:18 PM

I thoght I had mentioned heat,,,,,,is your best friend in the shop,,just a small propane oxy set will do most what ever you want and more

Carl Ashcroft · 04-23-2005, 10:47 AM

I had the same problem but the trans was out of the car for rebuild. So after removing the differential, I drilled through the plug and used a 3/4" easy out tool. This method creates steel chips, so clean them out afterwards.

Another guy I know welded a 17mm allen wrench to the plug, then slipped a pipe over the wrench and turned it out. This method has the advantage of using a combination of heat and force.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Heat and PB Blaster will get it out!!! A little patience helps, too...

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

Things could be worse, the PO coulda filled in the drain opening with steal...

North Coast Cab · North Coast Cab's Garage

Heat is hardly effective since all the tranny fluid is dissipating it. An option often used is to weld the hex head of a bolt into the plug and then double nut to get it out. Once the plug is worn and rounded it's very very difficult to get out with the standard allen socket.

John