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Stripped Out Final Drive Drain Plug

inyati13

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Joined
Nov 28, 2009
Messages
211
Location
Kentucky
Occupation
Farming
This pic is the final drive plug for a Cat D3G Dozer. There are drain plugs and fill plugs this is the drain plug. About the diameter of a quarter. It is tapped for a 5/16 hex allen wrench. It is totally stripped. Give me some ideas on how to remove it. The picture shows a new one and the one I got out from the other final drive.
 

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willie59

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Dec 21, 2008
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Knoxville TN
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First thing, take either a brass pin as close to the size of plug head, or the flat head of ball peen hammer placed on plug head, then give punch or ball peen some good whacks with a heavy hammer. This will help break the plug loose. Then you might try either welding a 5/16 hex key shank in the hole in plug, or, you could try some straight fluted screw extractors like these from Lisle, http://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=376
 

Lee-online

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Jan 16, 2010
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In a van, down by the river
It has an O-ring on it and that is what makes them hard to remove.

Hit the face of the plug a few times with a hammer and then they will unscrew. now since it is stripped you can use a hammer and chisel to turn the plug. last resort is to weld a nut to it.

BTW, they use metric hex keys.
 

td25c

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Feb 14, 2009
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5,250
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indiana
Hi inyati13.I start off by giving the plug a few good womps with a hammer,dont be shy about it,hitter hard.It helps loosten up the shoulder & threads on the plug.Then I go around the edge with a cold chisel to back out the plug.Wear youre safty glases & good luck with it.
 

Iron@Dirt

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Aug 27, 2010
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305
Location
south lou.
Weld a bigger flat washer to it then a nut, the heat will help losen it also then put a wrench on it when it cools a little. Or weld a bolt and simular procedure. Tap on end with a hammer but dont flare so as not to put a wench on it. Some would drill and easy out, but I rather welding.
 

big ben

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Aug 22, 2010
Messages
354
Location
Vancouver Island
The first thing I would try is a sharp chisel that is about 1/2 the diameter of the plug. Try hammering it in a counter clockwise direction at a 45 degree angle on either the top half or bottom in an attempt to loosen it and spin it out.
 

DPete

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Feb 21, 2007
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1,677
Location
Central Ca.
Agree with the chisel, if it won't get it pound a grade 8 bolt in the hole and weld it if you can
 

inyati13

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Nov 28, 2009
Messages
211
Location
Kentucky
Occupation
Farming
Thanks to all. In a van, down by the river. I smile everytime I think of Chris Farley.
 

ttazzman

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Sep 10, 2010
Messages
194
Location
missouri
I would not get excited about welding on a drain plug......but a chisel....or the end of the correct easyout tool would probably work fine.......
 

Trakwork

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Oct 25, 2009
Messages
47
Location
california
Occupation
owner/operator --semi retired
Looks like you could get a pipe wrench or vise grip to work?
or...Drill it . reverse thread ...place a bolt and turn.
 

CMSMOKE

Active Member
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Aug 11, 2008
Messages
42
Location
ligonier, pa
Get the correct size (new) allen wrench, liberally apply some valve grinding compound to the wrench and plug, remove. The valve grinding compound will give the wrench more grip.
 

Iron@Dirt

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
305
Location
south lou.
If you are a decent welder, by welding a nut or bolt you would have been finished a long time ago. But thats the way I have been doing it for years, Maybe its just me.
 

_Rod

Active Member
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
26
Location
Heart of Dixie
IronDirt is correct. Stick a hexhead bolt in the hole and weld it to the plug. Use a wrench to back the plug out. It can't get no easier than this.
 
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