oh oh...I've busted my radiator drain plug.

[Smithy]

as I said I've snapped off the radiator drain plug in the bottom whilst looking for this coolant leak....

the threaded bit is still in the knobbey end is off...
its not even tight in and is damp....crapper...


any one near brisbane mail me a spare???
I'll give detials if you can....

I'll send you $5 too! weee!

[Turbo2]

Bugger man - try visiting a reacker man see wat u can find man.....

Stink deal though

[Colza]

As funny as this seemed at the time, gues what i did this afternoon ::)

Noticed there was a little puddle on my radiator support, saw there was a drip on the end of the drain plug, gently applied pressure to the plug an it kindly twisted off >:(

I have a spare, but how did you go about getting the threaded bit out of the radiatior Smithy?

[Brendan]

Fader did the same thing to ours  Asked around for a spare but ended up cutting down a large bolt which does the job nicely with a bit of thread tape and a rubber washer.

[Colza]

Thats a good thought actually, i wonder if you can get giant wing nuts?

How did you guys get the plastic stud out of the radiator? I am trying to work out how to do it without having to drain and refill all my coolant :-/

[Fader]

DRILL!

or, still drill, but just drill yourself a bunch of short holes, to create a slot for a big flat head screw driver..?

have fun!

[Colza]

Oooh, hot piece of metal used to melt a hole for a flat head screwdriver!!!!

I am so trying that tomorrow!

I cant fit my drill between the radiator and the engine, i have access to a pneumatic drill which is tiny as, but its not at home which is where the car is now :-/

[Smithy]

WHHA    HAHAHA

thats funny.....whats worse is I havent bothered
to take out the busted bit yet....
its not leaking so I'm not gonna bother till I change the
coolant....but I do have a spare (which is why Brendans purchase from me was plug-less!!!)....

When it comes time to change it Im gonna see if I can find
a steel one that fits ...add a rubber wash....Im hoping to also
find a really strong magnet too that I can glue to it to catch
little bits of scale or corrosion from bits....(I realise the alloy engine block prob won't benefit being alloy)...

Still, I mean to do that with the sump plug too, you can buy them made up for minis!!

....anyway..I like the heated screwdriver idea myself, just melt it in and melt yourself a flat head bolt....
My first idea was to melt in or drill gently then screw in
a small screw, glue it in or whatever then use the screw to
undo it!

[Colza]

I had a go with a small "easy-out" but not being able to fit a drill back there is a bitch. If the worst comes to the worst i will have to get the car going, then drive it to my mates shop and use his pneumatic drill followed by an easy out. Hopefully i dont make tooo much of a mess ::)

[Brendan]

I once got a snapped bolt out by using an engraver to slit a line for a flat head screw driver.

[Henry]

It's the same as the Pro T so you can probably buy a new one.

[Adam_Rodewyk]

Im getting a tool soon that allows you to change coolant without having to drain it ;D. It is'nt cheap though >:(. (I mainly buying it for working on European cars as some of them are verry troublesome to bleed >:()

You need compressed air (about 80psi minium) to run it. It connets to your radator filler neck and applies a vacuume to the system and gets all the old coolant and refills the new stuf (which you mix in a bucket). It eliminates the need for draining coolant and the process takes just 10 to 15 minutes. Kind of simmalar to regasing AC.

As I work on Rovers and Landrovers for my Aprentiship I have come across alot of broken drain plugs and blead screws (they are made of plastic and are often fitted in hoses!). We often replace the hoses when this happens as it saves time but i have driled and taped one out once.

The best way is to tap and drill. I may be able to get a match for you on a steel drain plug at the bolt shop in the North shore. Iil have to check if there is anything the right size