84ninety · Nov 11, 2021

Hi all!

The drain plug on one of my swivel housings is stuck!! (Its a small square headed plug)
So before i ruin it i'm going to try and get a square spanner to go on it.
As far as I can see its going to be a 5/16 or something!!!
That's what i've measured, but with a tape and my crap eye sight who knows!
Can anyone enlighten me so i don't by the wrong size tool?
Thanks
Paul

Flossie · Nov 11, 2021

Dunno, but when I got mine out many years ago I replaced them with chrome plated brass ones with female hex drive from a pneumatic place. Think they are 1/2" BSP thread from memory.

84ninety · Nov 11, 2021

Flossie said:
Dunno, but when I got mine out many years ago I replaced them with chrome plated brass ones with female hex drive from a pneumatic place. Think they are 1/2" BSP thread from memory.

Thank you that's handy to know

zeaphod · Nov 14, 2021

They are a tapered thread, probably something like BSPT. I find hitting them with a suitable sized hammer before putting a spanner on them helps. Not sure of the size - I seem to remember it was maybe 11mm?

miktdish · Nov 14, 2021

eBay can be your friend ... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141885949132?hash=item21090fc4cc:g:Er8AAOSwLnlWpLzS

84ninety · Nov 14, 2021

Thank you for these last posts! Have a spanner on order and have a new plug ready!!!
I’ll try giving it a knock too!!!

Dodgy Den · Jan 15, 2022

No good for a 2001 TD5 Defender as mine are not raised square heads on them , they are square holes in the filler plugs, A previous owner had mullered one of the two front swivel filler plugs so i had to grind down a socket extension to a smaller size and tap it into the once square hole. I got it out with a lot of Wd40 and the modified extension.

v8250 · Jan 15, 2022

@84ninety , they can be tight when they haven't been recently removed. Get some PlusGas on there and soak overnight, then heat with MAPGas and ease off with an adjustable and a bar over the handle or a square socket and long bar. Once off and swivel drained give the thread a really good clean before re-assembly.

84ninety · Jan 18, 2022

I still have not got mine un done!
Thanks for the top tips.
I’m tied up with other things, but will get back to it soon!!

Dr Strangeglove · Jan 24, 2022

Let us know how you get on. I have the same problem. I think I am going to have to try welding a nut onto mine as I hope the heat will help to free it.

v8250 · Jan 24, 2022

Plusgas [soak for a couple of nights if needed]

+Rothenberger Super Fire II [these are the best torches and work at all angles/upside down]

+MappGas

= Job done [Screwfix has all of these]

84ninety · Jan 25, 2022

v8250 said:
Plusgas [soak for a couple of nights if needed]

+Rothenberger Super Fire II [these are the best torches and work at all angles/upside down]

+MappGas

= Job done [Screwfix has all of these]

Thanks for these tips, looks like a proper job blow lamp! ;-)

84ninety · Jan 25, 2022

Dr Strangeglove said:
Let us know how you get on. I have the same problem. I think I am going to have to try welding a nut onto mine as I hope the heat will help to free it.

I had not thought of that! Last resort I guess! Let me know how you get on?

Dr Strangeglove · Jan 26, 2022

84ninety said:
I had not thought of that! Last resort I guess! Let me know how you get on?

I will do. However I have also ordered on of the map gas torches as suggested by v8250. I have other things to do including a wheel bearing and changing my brake calipers, so I may try it at the same time.

miktdish · Jan 26, 2022

DR, they are an excellent addition to the tool box, your nuts will be quaking in their threads.
MAPP gas get very hot, much hotter than butane gas, hot enough to melt a hole in soft metals in a very short time ....

Dodgy Den · Feb 17, 2022

Here is what my swivel plugs are like. Not raised square versions . Any one know the part number of these? Or where to get them online?

v8250 · Feb 17, 2022

Don't know the part# but they're just std square head drain plugs. Measure the thread size and they're readily available from a good number of suppliers.

Flossie · Feb 17, 2022

They are standard bsp thread but I forget the size now. I fitted chrome plated brass ones from a pneumatic place near me, they are used by plumbers shops too. If you can measure the outside diameter of the plug thread I'll tell you the bsp size.
Probably 3/8 or 1/2"

Flossie · Feb 17, 2022

Oh..and they have a female hex drive so you use an Allan key to fit/remove.

Dr Strangeglove · Feb 17, 2022

Well my job ended up a bit more involved than I had planned. I ended up having issues getting the caliper off, seized bolts with rounded heads. Even knocking the tightest socket on did nothing as it was to far gone. I ended up having to cut the caliper in half, plugas everywhere, heat and knock on nut removers. The first extractor socket smapped when I tried to undo it. I then had to get a new set, drilled the back of the bot to relieve some steps on the threads, heated the area around the bolt and it came free - a lot of faffing about!

As the caliper and hubs were off I decided I wouldn't put off the swivel change any longer, so it was with them too.

As the swivel housing was very crusty I wanted to get rid of some of the rust. I ended up using electrolysis which was a first time for me - I was impressed with the results.

It has taken a while with the amount of de rusting, painting etc. Plus I have done both sides. That and the effing weather that does not seem to give up and l can't seem to get any continuity of work as the truck is outside. I will carry on with it when it stops raining!

I managed to get the filling plug out by heating the housing which I must admit I was surprised it worked.

I will put some photos up.