Gearbox Drain Plug...

[Bee Elzebub]

It doesn't take a genius to work out what calamity might befall the unwitting driver, but if a gearbox drain-plug works loose & falls out, the subsequent sudden loss of 'lube would utterly destroy any gearbox and may result in an axle lock-up by connection, yes?

Very worrying, then, that I discovered my Maverick's drain-plug only hanging in by a few threads & hanging a drip of oil, today, whilst giving it a pre-sale check-over; eyeballs-on-stalks moment, if ever there was one...

Question is: Is the plug a taper-thread fitting, or parallel-thread with a seal inside?

I whizzed it back in with a 1/2" sq-drive ratchet - not too tight that it might strip the thread, but enough to hopefully dissuade it from working loose again...if such an event can happen? ...Or should I suspect time-tabled sabotage from a disgruntled previous owner? (Long story, nowt to do directly with me)...

The plug now sits about two or thre threads proud of the casing - I didn't dare tighten it more...

 

[kitchenman]

I normally wrap PTFE tape around the plug, helps seal it & makes it easier to get out. Make sure you wrap it the right way else it will unwrap when you fit it. Works for me

 

[makeitfit]

Well caught mate :thumbs
You could put it in with some "gas" ptfe tape, the next time you do the oil
That'll seal it and you can tighten it properly

 

[rayf3262]

Well caught mate :thumbs
You could put it in with some "gas" ptfe tape, the next time you do the oil
That'll seal it and you can tighten it properly

Are you gas safe ?

 

[solarman216]

It is standard half inch BSP (british Standard Pipe) tapered do not worry you would be a strong man indeed to strip it, just tighten till it is tight with a standard Tee bar, and yes the Japs and every one else uses BSP, Rick

 

[makeitfit]

Nope , the wife's been feeding me fresh gerden beans :doh
Gas ptfe is just a heavy duty version :thumbs
(Bloody nanny state )

 

[lacroupade]

Nope , the wife's been feeding me fresh gerden beans :doh
Gas ptfe is just a heavy duty version :thumbs
(Bloody nanny state )

...because of course winding on a bit more of the thin stuff is too much for these H&S gaylords to comprehend.

 

[jims-terrano]

Normally they are jammed in and you can't get them out. Mine's well jammed in and I would love to give it a full gear oil change but can't.

Jim

 

[rustic]

I use calortite, similar to red hematite, doesn't set, but seals sump plugs and a bit on the oil drain plug stops any leaks.

Easy to undo next time, wipe off excess with meths. :thumb2

 

[Bee Elzebub]

Normally they are jammed in and you can't get them out. Mine's well jammed in and I would love to give it a full gear oil change but can't.

Jim

Well - I've got around that problem in the past by drilling another drain hole close by the original, then tap a standard thread into it (say, 16mm or so) and fit a normal short bolt and a "Dowty" sealing ring, worked brilliant on two gearboxes, years ago...


Cheers, guys - I'll dig out my PTFE tape then & get busy dribbling 'orrible oil up my arm, this weekend.

Oh, by-the-way - what oil goes in the Maverick/Terrano gearbox, and how much?

 

[solarman216]

Normally they are jammed in and you can't get them out. Mine's well jammed in and I would love to give it a full gear oil change but can't.

Jim

You are just not trying hard enough, they all come out, if you have not got a 2 foot knuckle bar, then just heat it up with a plumbers blow torch/blow lamp etc till it is to hot to hold your hand on for more than a minute, and it will fall out, same can be done after a log run when it is well hot, have never been defeated yet and have done hundreds, even those that have had the square rounded off, once out new plug fitted, simple, Rick

 

[wildbri]

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5135&highlight=wildbri

regards bri

 

[Bee Elzebub]

http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5135&highlight=wildbri

regards bri

Cheers, Bri! Read & digested (not sure about the 'ketchup' idea, tho' - very saucy! :lol )

 

[tobias]

sump plug

Normally they are jammed in and you can't get them out. Mine's well jammed in and I would love to give it a full gear oil change but can't.

Jim

hi have you tried extentension wheel bar
tobias

 

[jims-terrano]

hi have you tried extentension wheel bar
tobias

I have to say that I have not tried it myself but I've had 3 different garages over the years all turn round and say they can't and are worried about gearbox case if they tried anymore.

Jim

 

[Bee Elzebub]

Finally got around to changing the gearbox oil, today; started to undo the plug, thought I'd better see if the fill/level plug would come out - ee-arr! No bloody chance! Feels like it's welded in - even tried a 2ft-long, 1/2"-drive knuckle bar with a short piece of pipe over that - still no go...

Oh, well, - Plan B: remove the centre console & gear lever, fill from top... Took a good while to do, that way, but at least I didn't do any damage, anywhere. Took me back to the good ol' days when I had to do my old Del Trotter Supervan Special, that way (same problem of seized plug)....[Now, THAT'D be a laugh - a Supervan bodyshell on a SWB Maverick chassis !!!]

Anyway, I whizzed out the drainplug & got stuck in... Jeepers!!! You should've seen what poured out of the drain plug - jet black, ultra-thin Grade One Stink-Oil...five litres-worth!!!! And you guys all say 3.5ltrs? I guess a previous owner didn't read the same books...
I erred on the side of caution when I refilled the 'box, by putting 4ltrs of 80/90 GL4 back in - lovely result! Super-slippy gear-changes at last...

Many thanks for the pointers, guys...

 

[solarman216]

You are just not trying hard enough, they all come out, if you have not got a 2 foot knuckle bar, then just heat it up with a plumbers blow torch/blow lamp etc till it is to hot to hold your hand on for more than a minute, and it will fall out, same can be done after a log run when it is well hot, have never been defeated yet and have done hundreds, even those that have had the square rounded off, once out new plug fitted, simple, Rick

As I have said before, Rick

 

[Bee Elzebub]

Yes, I know & understand that - but I didn't have the time to go buy a blowy or source a new plug, and the more I used the motor, the more I feared that the gearbox was going to go "crunch" any minute from what I had suspected was lack of oil, so I chose the long-winded but gentler approach; only took half-hour to pull out the console & rubber-dubber & gearstick, etc...

Once I had direct access, then I unscrewed the drain plug & found the black 'water'...

No wonder the gears were a bit difficult to shift up & down...

Cheers anyway, Rick - do appreciate it!