Who can tell me what kind of fastener this is?? (915 transmission oil drain plug)

[speedracer]

I know that the 17mm hex key is standard for the drain plugs but I think the previous owner put a different one on. As you can see it has "teeth" around the diameter ...

[Joe Bob]

I'd hunt the Previous Owner down and KEEL HEEM....

Looks like you'll need a specialty tool guy for that one. Or if yer lucky a little heat and some big vice grips.....

[barney911rs]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think it looks like it's inside out. Have you checked to see if that little button is magnetic? That is supposed to help collect little particles of metal in the oil.

[lally911]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think it looks like it's inside out.

It does look that way. The plugs are tapered so I don't think it would start threading in if reversed. I'd try some heat and big vice grips.

[barney911rs]

But it's the plug that's tapered, not the hole isn't it?

[TerryH]

You need something like this...

http://www.hudsonfasteners.com/sec/sec_tx_pinbit.htm

[Hugh R]

I think your right, its inside out! If you can't get it out, you a clench wrench, available at Sears, its one fixed jaw and one moveable one, sort of like a plumbers basin wrench, the harder you pull, the tighter it grips. It will destroy the plug, but you'll get it out.

[TerryH]

Those types of screws were used on VCR's and stereo going back many years. They are considered tamper-proof. Obviously this is a magnitude larger than those.

[speedracer]

Not what I wanted to hear guys.. I see a vice grip purchase in my near future..

[speedracer]

Ok, I looked at the replacement plug our host sells and it looks like mine might be in upside down... If that is the case would I then need to turn it clockwise to remove, the reverse of normal?? Need some help guys..

[barney911rs]

What I was trying to say is the plug got put in from the inside, not screwed in backwards. That is not a Torx fitting. What appears to be the magnetic pickup in the middle of the plug would not allow a Torx bit to fit in there anyway.

I've never seen anything like that. I hope you don't have to pull the tranny apart to get that plug out.

[speedracer]

Originally posted by barney911rs
What I was trying to say is the plug got put in from the inside, not screwed in backwards. That is not a Torx fitting. What appears to be the magnetic pickup in the middle of the plug would not allow a Torx bit to fit in there anyway.

I've never seen anything like that. I hope you don't have to pull the tranny apart to get that plug out.

The tranny was rebuilt recently I wonder if they could have but it back together like this...

[TerryH]

The plug in our tranny is a tapered interference type fit... aka pipe thread. That plug wouldn't have been screwed in backwards without damaging the threads on the trans.

What about the fill plug? Same thing? Are you near the garage the previous owner used? Perhaps they have what you need.

Edit: One of the most common bits of sage advice offered on this forum is not to attempt to remove the drain plug without removing the fill plug first. The theory is if you drain the oil, but now can't refill because the top plug is stuck, you can't drive to a local shop for help.

[speedracer]

Thanks for your comments Terry. Both plugs are like this.. The garage that did the rebuild is a LONG way away. A country away (US).....

[scottb]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but if the plug is tapered AND it's been incorrectly installed from the inside, it's not going to come out from the outside because the taper won't let it come through the hole. If this is the case, it seems to me there are two options: (1) Open the tranny up and remove the plug, or (2) carefully drill out the plug and remove the pieces from the threads with a dental pick or something similar. Since you're going to be draining the fluid anyway, hopefully this will wash out any particles from the drilling process.

I hope I'm wrong here, because neither option is particularly good.

[fred cook]

You might be able to cut a slot on each side of the plug with a Dremel disc or a cutoff wheel. Then you could insert a flat piece of steel clamped in a big set of locking pliers. That should give you enough leverage to turn it out. Make certain that you can get the fill plug out before removing the drain plug! Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Gogar]

Why why why would anyone ever ever ever put the plug in from the inside?

[TerryH]

Originally posted by Gogar
Why why why would anyone ever ever ever put the plug in from the inside?

To me all this talk of inserting the plug from the inside is nonsense. It can't happen without tapping new threads into the trans. I think folks are seeing the pin and thinking its the magnetic plug.

If you have old paperwork, call the garage where this trans was last serviced.

Disclaimer: I'm not nearly as informed as many here, these are just my opinions and I've been wrong before.


If it were mine, I would search google first for the proper tool or take a printed a photo to the snap on truck or local tool house. If all that failed, I would dremel the post out with a ball type bit, then try a Torx bit. I have Torx bits to T50 so hopefully one would be snug. I also have easy-outs that are large that would fit with that post removed. Last ditch effort would be pipe wrench/vise grip approach.

[ChrisBennet]

I think it is an oil drain plug for a Boxster. I seem to remember seeing a triple square (aka "XZN") drain plug wrench with a hole in it to accomodate the pin you are seeing. I could be wrong but it seems more likely than a plug being installed inside out.

I looked it up and found a picture of the tool I'm thinking of. Tool also fits Audi A4 and A6.



-Chris

[GrantG]

I think Chris may be right - his tool looks to have the same number of teeth as the plug...