Dreamcatcher 102 #1 Posted August 30, 2023 Hi All, I am trying to change the gear oil in my 310-8 and it seems that the plug is damaged/rounded. Does anyone have an laternative way of accmplishing this? I tried sticking my fluid extractor tube in the fill hole but it did not go far. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,205 #2 Posted August 30, 2023 Two ideas come to me but I want to wait and see what the others are going to say so I'll follow along. 1. Get or make a smaller extractor tube. 2. Super messy but was it me, I'd probably drill the plug out the bottom. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamcatcher 102 #3 Posted August 30, 2023 18 minutes ago, ebinmaine said: Two ideas come to me but I want to wait and see what the others are going to say so I'll follow along. 1. Get or make a smaller extractor tube. 2. Super messy but was it me, I'd probably drill the plug out the bottom. The rube I used was pretty skinny to begin with. I went at it a different angles it did seeem to have much room. Then again, worth another try since a dipstick does go down init. Drilling out. Thought of it but i'd be afraid to mess up the threads. Would need help with the part number to replace it. Sometimes this works out well, sometimes not so much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,205 #4 Posted August 30, 2023 1 minute ago, Dreamcatcher said: The rube I used was pretty skinny to begin with. I went at it a different angles it did seeem to have much room. Then again, worth another try since a dipstick does go down init. Drilling out. Thought of it but i'd be afraid to mess up the threads. Would need help with the part number to replace it. Sometimes this works out well, sometimes not so much. A skinny plastic restaurant straw that was taped to the end of your regular tube MIGHT make a reasonable extraction device. That drain plug is what's considered a Standard Part. Nuts bolts washers light bulbs things like that. All Standard Parts. Pretty much any hardware store would have one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
moe1965 744 #5 Posted August 30, 2023 (edited) I just went through this with my tractor I heated up a little with a torch and then found a torques bit that was close tapped it in the rounded out Allen head hole and it came right out. Assuming this is the same type of plug you are having issues with I used the torques bit style that goes on a ratchet socket rench Edited August 30, 2023 by moe1965 More info 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kenneth R Cluley 530 #6 Posted August 30, 2023 I have had luck with the next closest Metric allen wrench and tap in, probably similar to torx bit mentioned above. Definitely a challenge to draw gear oil through a small tube. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Skwerl58 707 #7 Posted August 30, 2023 I just replaced the plug on my older Wheel Horse and it was a standard 1/4" npt plug and picked it up at Advance Auto. I had to get mine out with vice grips due to the hex head being stripped but it had threads below the case. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamcatcher 102 #8 Posted August 30, 2023 Where might I find a replacement plug? The local HD does not seem to carry it..TSC? Dpes anyone know the correct size? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,205 #9 Posted August 30, 2023 13 minutes ago, Dreamcatcher said: anyone know the correct size? 18 minutes ago, Skwerl58 said: 1/4" npt Unless it's been modified from stock I believe that will be it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 68,205 #10 Posted August 30, 2023 Hardware store. Plumbing supply. Auto Parts store. Possibly even Garden supply. If you have to go mail order you could go mcmaster-carr. If you have a few days to wait I could send you one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 38,598 #12 Posted August 30, 2023 ACE Hardware has 1/4" NPT pipe plugs. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 15,580 #13 Posted August 30, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, Dreamcatcher said: ...it seems that the plug is damaged/rounded... How much of the plug is still sticking out. If you have at least 1/8", you should be able to get a pair of vice-grips on it. If not, clean the inside of the 1/4" Allen hole of all grease and dirt. Then get Torx bit that is slightly larger then a 1/4" Allen, probably T40, and drive it in. Then use your 3/8" drive to turn it out. Edited August 30, 2023 by rmaynard 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 7,079 #14 Posted August 30, 2023 If you end up having to drill it out, use a left handed drill bit. Sometimes the drill bit will catch on the plug and back it out. If I were drilling the plug, I'd try a 3/8" drill bit, using the hex socket as a pilot hole, that should keep the drill out of the threads. After drilling the plug, I'd go back with a bolt extractor (Easy Out) to remove the reminants of the plug. Good luck. I'd usually say 'and have fun' at this point, but a job like this is never fun. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamcatcher 102 #15 Posted August 30, 2023 2 hours ago, rmaynard said: How much of the plug is still sticking out. If you have at least 1/8", you should be able to get a pair of vice-grips on it. If not, clean the inside of the 1/4" Allen hole of all grease and dirt. Then get Torx bit that is slightly larger then a 1/4" Allen, probably T40, and drive it in. Then use your 3/8" drive to turn it out. Wish I was that lucky Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
