OIL DRIAN plug Stripped out

[greggh]

1998 STD 95k
Was changing oil and put the drain plug back in and it would not tighten up.
Just kept spinning.

Any ideas.
Bike mechanic friend of mine has offered to do a Heli Coil as a fix.

Has anyone else ever had this problem?
Any other solutions?

Thanks in advance!
Greggh

[98pacecar]

Heli-coils are a good solution.   

I've actually done them in spark plug threads,,, with good result.   

[Chrisj CMA]

Nothing wrong with a helicoil except its not as durable as new threads.  Plus the problem was probably caused by over torquing (common mistake) and if so, the remaining threads will be even more sensitive to being stripped out again.  A permanent or semi permanent  insert with new threads and a matched drain bolt are made just for this problem....do a little research.  Heres a basic idea of what I mean:

http://www.mtsac.edu/~cliff/storage/gs/Stripped-Oil-Drain-Plug-Repair.pdf

A time-sert is a more sophisticated permanent fix, but much the same Idea.  Either one of these would be a more durable fix over a helicoil.

http://www.timesert.com/

[crow]

I would have to disagree with helicoils not being good as the original.  I work on large gas turbines. (GE frame 5's 7B, EA's and F's.)  Some parts come from the factory with helicoils pre installed.   Two sets of threads are better (stronger) than one.  Any way its a quick, simple, and very reliable fix.

[R J]

All of the kids race bikes had heli coils in almost every threaded hole in the block, transmission and etc.    Due to being torn apart after every weekend of racing.    Stock threads will only take so much use.

In fact MGM has a heli coil in the drain plug and has been there for about 9 or 10 years.   NO leaks, and snugs up real easy.

Buy a heli coil set for the diamater of your drain plug.

Read the directions.

Now, drill out the old hole with the recommended drill bit.

Tape this hole.

Insert the heli coil and proceed to turn it into the hole.

When it is in fully, there is a little tip to be broken off.   This locks the coil in place.

[greggh]

The oppinions given certainly give me diffenrent thoughts on how to fix this.

My friend the mechanic has owned a all metric bike shop for over 20 and been servicing metrics for over 30 years.
The Helicoil is his suggestion.

I trust in his oppinion and trust the oppinion of many individuals on the site.

The help offered here has always served me very well.
I like the idea of the time thing drain plug replacment.

Mostly just dont trust my abilities at times to do something of this nature without making things worse.

Sometimes there are things best left to those i trust in thier abilities.

If he leans towards the Helicoil fix, then that will be the advice i will take with his help.

I just wanted to know if others had created this problem with thier Valk.

Much thanks and more information is appreciated.

[gordonv]

The time-sert was what I was thinking of.

One of those weekend auto shows had this thing that replaces the oil plug, something like a valve stem, bolts on, with a rubber washer. The you have a smaller bolt to remove to drain the oil.

Here is the time-sert
http://www.timesert.com/html/drainplug.html

I'm sure what I saw was something else with a o-ring crush seal type.

[Madmike]

Google Keensert , but you will need some kind of a sealant for the external threads

[greggh]

Update
Helicoil in place and working just fine.

Thank to all for the advise!
Greggh