Anyone ever shear the radiator drain bolt???

[Strider]

Man, I had a tiny wrench and went the wrong direction (dont know what I was thinking - another case of being mechanically challenged) and sheared the radiator drain bolt at the bottom of the water pump housing.  I know it is only 7 ft/lb or something, but I didnt put much pressure at all and it sheared.  There is not enough thread to even put the bolt head back in without the crush washer.  

So, now the dilemma. Do you think the piece of bolt left in there will hold?  Can I throw a gob of JB Weld on it?  It is not leaking and I took her out for a few miles to make sure she wouldnt start leaking, but dont know what will happen when everything really heats up.  Note - I dont have a tap kit or anything here and am actually worried about metal shaving going through the water pump now if I try to drill the bolt threads out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - remember, I am a mechanical "special child", so the simpler, the better......  

Sure dont want the radiator to drain on me in the middle of a hot, nothing in sight, nowhere on the way to Spearfish or something.  

[Chrisj CMA]

I think your plan to coat it with JB Weld is a good one Striderman!!!  From now until (if) you get a new water pump you just have to remove the big hose to drain it, that's how I always do it anyways....that tiny drain bolt just looks scary to me

Hey you could find something cool looking to stick on top of the JB Weld so it looks "custom" instead of jerry rigged

[Strider]

Thanks Brother!  

That is what I will do tomorrow........  Thanks again!

Hey bro, tell my Queen D, that I was not lying about her soap.  Man, when was that?  First Inzane in Tennessee or over at Swoppie's rid in over in Florida?  Anyway, anyone who goes into our guest room, will see her work.  Man, that was a while back my brother...........



Oh yeah, I also used your instructions over in Shoptalk when I was doing my rear work........Thanks man!

[Chrisj CMA]

When was that?  I don't even want to think about it.  Too much time, way too much.  Ride safe bro, we need to hit an event together sometime soon

[Misfit]

Warren I will bring a  water pump cover to SD. The JB weld will hold until you get home. Then you can change it at you leisure. Righty tighty lefty loosey. 

[Bighead]

Yep did that waaaaay back in 1998 on my Bee and JB weld over the hole and good to this day

[trout dude]

Warren if you would feel better with a good one on the trip i have a few extras i can drop one off on my way to Texas wednesday let me know. PM me if you would like to do this.
 Dennis

[Hooter]

   Clean it up good with sand paper around the bolt then slap the weld to it. You will be fine.

[DK]

JB Weld now makes  a putty-like product that you knead to activate. Other companies have similar products.

Some are for wet surfaces, others are machineable, and others are just plain epoxy putty.

You may want to consider using one of these products.

As you have a plug of sorts in place, I would consider coating any exposed drain hole threads with a very light coating of Magic Lube or something similar and attaching a hex nut to the exposed surface of the putty plug. You could then unscrew it in the normal way when you make a permanent repair.

I patched an air leak caused by a root on the return line of my swimming pool a couple of years age from the inside (suction side) of the PVC pipe where it exits the skimmer basket. I used the water adapted putty an to my surprise, it held to the end of the season, three months later.

"Putty Plug" has a nice ring to it

Dan