Desmog Freeze Plugs

[bikerboy1951]

I took all the smog items off the bike yesterday.  I had purchased 9/16" frost plugs and went to install them.  They are the cup type with the concave on the outside of the cup.  They barely went into the hole and I am afraid if I start tapping them in, that they will expand and barely be in the hole.
Do I have the wrong type or what am I doing wrong?

Brad

[Kaiser]

9/16" freeze plugs are the right thing.  Trust me, I know.  Here's what happens when you DON'T use the right plugs.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,24589.0.html

[Cyclejohn]

I used the 9/16 freeze plugs also and it is a very tight fit but I took a 1/4" drive socket (undersized to fit inside of the freeze plug) on an extension and tapped mine in slowly and then filled the cavity with JBWELD. Did I mention that it was a "VERY" tight fit.

[3W-lonerider]

those freeze plugs need to be installed with the open side up. use a socket just a tad smaller than the hole in the block. do not install them by beating them in upside down..they will expand and crack your block. 

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,24589.0.html

if you look at the pics in that thread..those plugs were put in upside down. and beating them mushroomed them..

[chuckie]

I purchased 9/16th plugs from napa. When I tried putting them in they would not fit. My question is are there different materials used. these appeared to be a shiny steel. After hitting them with a fair amount of force they didn't begin to go in. I quit for fear of cracking head. Anyone else experienced this problem?
Chuckie

[3W-lonerider]

freeze plugs are measured from the outside so all 9/16 freeze plugs are gonna be the same reguardless of material used to make them.

[Thunderbolt]

as has been said, install with the open side up.  Use a socket that is small enough that when the freeze plugs are compressed, will not grab the socket.  I think I used a 1/4" extension on a small socket, don't remember what size socket though.

[quexpress]

as has been said, install with the open side up.  Use a socket that is small enough that when the freeze plugs are compressed, will not grab the socket.  I think I used a 1/4" extension on a small socket, don't remember what size socket though.

Yep! 
Mine have been in like that since 2003. 

[GOOSE]

kaiser.......you did us the right plugs.....the only thing you did was beat the heck out of it, and then wacked the motor in the process

[GOOSE]

bikerboy.......if you read down in the posts on the above site kiser supplied, you will find that it was not the plugs, but the installer that caused the crack.   i have installed alot of the smog kits that he mentioned, and have had no problems at all with them.   of all these kits out there, NOT ONE HAS EVER FAILED. 

[f6john]

    It's been a lot of years since I did my desmog, but I went to an auto parts store that had bins of different size freeze plugs and found them in 14mm and the fit was perfect.

[CASABROKER]

Why cant you just leave all the Oem stuff on and plug the lines where they hook up?  too me that would look a lot cleaner.

[Kaiser]

kaiser.......you did us the right plugs.....the only thing you did was beat the heck out of it, and then wacked the motor in the process

The plugs I got were a solid round shiny piece with no "open side" whatsoever.  They were solid through-and-through with nothing to differentiate one side from the other.

But you are correct - my problem was caused by myself.  The other three didn't crack, just this one.  I think I whacked it too hard with too big a hammer.  That was the last one I did, so patience, energy, and caution were all wearing thin.

A little JB Weld and some new bright, shinny Kury covers - and it's all good.

[John Schmidt]

I have both the 24 hr. stuff and JB Quick. The Quick version will set up in minutes and hardens in short order, you don't have to wait 24 hrs. for it to set up and harden. I've done a few slow jet changes for riders and included a desmog in the process. I cut the chrome tubing with my air driven hack saw, stuff a tiny wad of paper towel in the tube simply to keep the JB Quick from running down the tube, then fill the tube with it. By the time I'm done with tapping in the freeze plugs(open cup side UP), and replacing the carb jets, the JB Quick is hard as a rock.

I use the Quick version more than the 24 hr. stuff, because it does set up so fast. If you have a big job to do and it's going to take some time but want fast results when done, then mix just a little at a time. When done, let it sit while you go have a sandwich, it will be hardened by the time you return. Full curing takes a few hours but you're fully operational in under an hour.

[Kaiser]

I let mine sit and cure for four days, so I think I'm covered. 

[dukesguy]

I also bought the 9/16 th freeze plugs from NAPA. Tried to tap them in like people suggested, open side up, 1/4 socket extension. They would not go in at all. Kept trying to go in crooked. I then ordered the desmog kit from XF6. Best money I ever spent,(not really that much). They are slightly tapered, put small end in first, couple taps with a hammer, they were in. Had the whole thing done in about an hour. Bike had a partial desmog done when I bought it. I just had tubes with plugs on them to remove. I highly recommend the XF6 desmog kit.

[GOOSE]

dukesguy......your the man of the hour....you are exactly right on with ...you put the tappered end in first, then you tap lightly with a hammer and brass drift.  daryl designed these plugs to0 an exact tolerance, so they fit perfectly, and require no jb weld to be held in, or sealeed.   i have put many of these kits in with NOT the first problem.  they look like they are factory plugs, and caME WITH THE BIKE.  sometimes people will install a product not knowing how to do it, or unable to read directions, then when a problem arises they blame the manufacturer when the problem was really the installer that beat, and broke the thing in the first place.  daryl is a member of this group, who truly does care, and his products show that in their quality.  we are lucky to have people among us who still make products for our bikes. for without them we would have no chance of getting any.   

[John U.]

And as we all know, life sucks when you ain't gettin any.