Gear Oil Drain Plug and a front diff question

[Wildthings]

The T in NPT stands for "taper" so no you can not use it from the inside.

[IdahoDoug]

Yeah, knew that but wasn't sure how such a tap worked - ie like a clamshell pair of taps that progressively get closer as you screw them into a hole being threaded? In which case it may work "backwards" as well. Though it would be a rare item that needed to loosen as you screwed it in to guarantee a leak if you tighen it - hah! Wait - I think the British use that "reverse leaker" style...............

DougM
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

[chojinchef]

Once I learned the thread was a taper, which I confirmed at home with the trusty Verniers, I knew my options had just shrunk.

I went out and found one of the not so FLAPS who had a generic drain plug of the same size and thread as mine. I then cut two grooves in the sides at perpendicular angle to thread direction and used that to chase my threads as clean as I could get them.

I did this with the oil oozing over my hand to minimize the fragments within the case and then drained the tranny completely. Looking at te threads, they don't look too bad. The original drain plug went in nicely and started to bind up (due to taper) at appropriate position to get a decent snug fit and seal.

And this is the homemade drain plug tool. It's a Mercedes lug bolt (think it came off an SL, but don't remember) mated with a Mercedes lug nut, welded together. Cheap and effective.

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Its a mistress; an expensive, whiney, needy bitch of a mistress. She is a chunky, dirty girl with bad skin, little motivation and yet she always makes me smile. She sure has been around before shacking up with me. She has a direct line to my wallet, plays with my emotions, is consistantly jovial yet with a sarcastic and sardonic side, is consistant in her inconsistancy, and every once in a while gives me a great ride and a fantastic memory.