ianc Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 This, taken from the Basic Maintenance document (which Tony Sheach and I prepared a Technical Seminar at IWE 2013 in Malvern, and which was published as a pull-out centrefold in TR Action 273. March 2014) may assist. Ian Cornish Removing tapered drain & filler plugs – special note The drain/filler plug 114774, is found on sumps, gearboxes and back axles (but not all of them!). It is made of steel, with a square head and a tapered thread. Because of this taper, the plug can be difficult to undo if previously installed by a gorilla. If the corners of the square are in good condition, it may be removed with a ½” AF socket, but if the plug has been mistreated, you may find that reversing a 9/16” AF socket directly onto the ½” drive in your socket set then gives you a ½” square socket which is quite a good fit onto the head of the plug. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 This, taken from the Basic Maintenance document (which Tony Sheach and I prepared a Technical Seminar at IWE 2013 in Malvern, and which was published as a pull-out centrefold in TR Action 273. March 2014) may assist. Ian Cornish Removing tapered drain & filler plugs – special note The drain/filler plug 114774, is found on sumps, gearboxes and back axles (but not all of them!). It is made of steel, with a square head and a tapered thread. Because of this taper, the plug can be difficult to undo if previously installed by a gorilla. If the corners of the square are in good condition, it may be removed with a ½” AF socket, but if the plug has been mistreated, you may find that reversing a 9/16” AF socket directly onto the ½” drive in your socket set then gives you a ½” square socket which is quite a good fit onto the head of the plug. Hi Ian, now that is a top tip. I could reverse a 1/2 drive socket and then use one of my old snapon alen key sockets inserted in the end and a use a ratchet and extension. Had not even thought of that, cheers. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted September 10, 2015 Report Share Posted September 10, 2015 Is the plug 1/2" af - I thought they were 7/16"af. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Hi Roger, yes it is 7/16, but I'm thinking the 1/2 square drive end of the socket may provide (sloppy) purchase on the 7/16 square plug as it is in good condition and the two squares only being 1/16 difference in size, would not work with hex end, but square is likely to be more forgiving, have not tried yet, but may work. Will proably end up buying a 8 point socket from the states on ebay as they seem to be more common there than here. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Do it right with an 8 point socket. Use it on all the plugs, with an extension bar if necessary and don't risk chewing up any of them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanT Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 Get a piece of 1/8in flat, 1/4in would better but makes more work. Drill a hole in the middle. File out to fit the square end. Weld to a big nut. Use mating socket. Don't loose it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 (edited) HI, all. Snap-on do an 8 point socket, 3/8th drive, 7/16 double square for £10.38 inc vat, plus delivery (F314, found that from Rogers link, but US postage is excessive), will either order one from their UK web site or catch the franchise driver when he pops in to the workshop across the road from the office. This can then live on the rail with the other sockets and I'm sure will confuse me from time-to-time when I can't get it to fit on 7/16 hex head bolts after picking the wrong 7/16 socket off the rail. Not a bad price for a relatively specialist tool and worth the money to me. Mark Edited September 11, 2015 by MRG1965 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AlanG Posted September 11, 2015 Report Share Posted September 11, 2015 I just used a 3/4 AF nut and filed out a square to fit. Easy peasy. Alan. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 I just used a 3/4 AF nut and filed out a square to fit. Easy peasy. Alan. Hi Alan, now thats what I like about the forum, cleaver ideas. Like that a lot. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisR-4A Posted September 12, 2015 Report Share Posted September 12, 2015 Fix no #999a First file the square on the plug to 3/8 square then use a 3/8 drive x 3" extension with a suitable socket on the square end for the rat get and the female 3/8 sq end over the plug. This is long enough to reach through a hole in the tunnet and being in one piece you won't drop it on the floor. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ianc Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 Apart from the various suggestions above, there is a purpose-made spanner with identifier ARE001T. This is a beefy piece of steel with, at one end, the correct, square socket for drain/filler plugs, and the other end has a square socket for brake adjuster. I was presented with such a spanner by Tony Sheach when we ran the Basic Maintenance seminar at the 2013 IWE. I don't know the manufacturer as there's no identifier and I haven't managed to find anything via Google. After some searching, I found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/TRIUMPH-STAG-2000-2500-DOLOMITE-SPITFIRE-SUMP-DIFF-PLUG-SPANNER-/371438227714?hash=item567b719102 If it works on those Triumphs (and the photo shows the taper plug we all know and love!), it must work on TRs, too At £2.50 plus £1.60 for P&P, it's not too expensive. Ian Cornish Quote Link to post Share on other sites
monty Posted September 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Apart from the various suggestions above, there is a purpose-made spanner with identifier ARE001T. This is a beefy piece of steel with, at one end, the correct, square socket for drain/filler plugs, and the other end has a square socket for brake adjuster. I was presented with such a spanner by Tony Sheach when we ran the Basic Maintenance seminar at the 2013 IWE. I don't know the manufacturer as there's no identifier and I haven't managed to find anything via Google. After some searching, I found this on ebay: http://www.ebay.fr/itm/TRIUMPH-STAG-2000-2500-DOLOMITE-SPITFIRE-SUMP-DIFF-PLUG-SPANNER-/371438227714?hash=item567b719102 If it works on those Triumphs (and the photo shows the taper plug we all know and love!), it must work on TRs, too At £2.50 plus £1.60 for P&P, it's not too expensive. Ian Cornish I think the problem we all seem to find is getting your hand into that small cutout! That spanner would be ideal to get to the plug from underneath but removal of it from inside the car does really involve a socket type item on an extentsion & a ratchet. I found a socket in my collection recently that seemed to fit ok without damaging the square on the plug. Cheers. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Revolution Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 Hi Everyone The Triumph Stag spanner which Ian C has referred to on E Bay does work from underneath but if the PO has done up the plug too tight, be prepared for grazed knuckles and a bent spanner...... Then remember not to do the plug up too tight when you've refilled the gearbox!!! Nick Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Hi all, well I payed my money and made my choice. In the end I plumped for the 8 point double square 3/8th drive (F314) snapon socket, arrived today and works a treat on the gearbox filler, easy-pezsy now from inside the car, and easy access to the axle filler plug too. Won't leave checking the level so long next time. Regards Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mike d Posted September 21, 2015 Report Share Posted September 21, 2015 Snap on do a 3/8 drive socket , makes job easy as it will not slip off Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MRG1965 Posted September 22, 2015 Report Share Posted September 22, 2015 Snap on do a 3/8 drive socket , makes job easy as it will not slip off HI Mike, yes that's the one I brought, they also do a 1/2 drive version, but that was a bit more expensive and most of my stuff is 3/8" or 1/4" with a few larger 1/2" and (very large) 3/4" imperial drive sockets. Have not needed to use the 3/4" sockets on the TR4 as they are a bit big and hark back to my days as a truck mechanic, many many years ago now. But they are excellent for pushing old bushes out with and a length of threaded bar and a couple of nuts. Mark Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveN Posted September 29, 2015 Report Share Posted September 29, 2015 Put a few wraps of ptfe tape on the plugs before refitting......and don't strangle it up. Makes life a lot easier. ptfe gas tape is ideal...available from your local diy store. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.