Sump bolt chewed the thread

[The Tot]

Guys, when i was doing my oilchange today, i noticed that the sump bolt managed to chew bits of the thread. So the Bolt's in finger-tight caked in chemical metal and liquid gasket. Short of getting a new sump/oil pan, what can i do? Also, finding a sump on my bike wll be pretty damn difficult.

I'm not intending to use the bike for a while, but i'll see how much oil is dripping.

Btw, what are the implications of doing an oilchange without the filters being changed too? I couldn't get mine off as i thought the filter wrench was for a kwaka, but it wasn't. There were about 2 there and no C spanners.

Cheers for your help, bike's being an absolute bitch.

The garage does have a tap and die, which i'm tempted to use, but if anybody has encountered a similar problem, let me know. Now i'm contemplating whether i should have changed the oil in the first instance!
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Robby]

You should always change the filter when you change the oil, particularly if its your first oil change on the bike and you don't know its history. I normally do a catch-up service when I first get an old bike to have a known start point.

For the sump plug I'd get the sump off, drill out the hole and tap a thread into it, and get a sump plug to fit. Would expect to go up a size on sump plug, and probably fit a car one to get cheaper replacements. They sell them in halfords and motor factors, in assorted sizes.

[The Tot]

Is it possible to change the filter with the sump full of oil? Or would that defeat the purpose of doing an oilchange with the filter in the first instance. I need to find a kawasaki filter wrench adaptor.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Robby]

Never tried it, but assuming the filter is up the block from the sump a bit it should be fine. Oil sits down in the sump, you can see where it comes up to one the sight glass.

Just stab a screwdriver through the old filter or use a chain wrench. I'd also change the filter cold you don't burn your hands on the exhaust.

[owdamer]

[Nath]

Why do you need a special tool? You get it off with a chain wrench or a screwdriver like Robby stated above, and you tighten up the new one by hand. As long as you're not built like a sissy girl you should be able to do it up tight enough.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[carvell]

[owdamer]

[The Tot]

all comedies aside, until i actually have enough money to take the bike to the garage, what can be applied around the sump bolt to reduce the weeping oil?
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[owdamer]

To be honest I cant think of a good solution. Oil leaks can be really tricky. I had a brand new Honda XR250 once, that used to leak where an oil pipe went into the casing. I used to change the o ring every week & within an hour it would be weeping again. I put all sorts on it to stop it & nothing worked. I resolved the problem after about 8 months of ownership when honda changed the o ring for a higher spec one. After that it never leaked again.
The only think I can suggest it to remove the sump, then put a helicoil in it along with a new sump plug.

[Cillit-BANG]

How about some epoxy putty of some sort?

Make sure the area is spotless from oil/grease first.

ffiw, Oil filters are supposed to be fitted hand tight.

[Nath]

Cunts
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[owdamer]

[stinkwheel]

[The Tot]

Many people have suggested getting the helicoil thread done to the sump. I guess it's going to have to be done in spring when i can actually be bothered to sort out my bike. It's weeping but not considerably.

Thanks for all your help then guys.

In the meantime, the whole bolt area's going to have be looked at very closely over the next few weeks and months. Might actually need a tub of liquid gasket permanently under my seat for good measure.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[Jrod]

How many things you broken on it now?

[Ian (GPX)]

OK ..... sump drain plug ..... chewed up thread ... I had the same problem last year ... this is what I did :

1/ Find dealer that has new sump gasket in stock and go buy it

2/ Removed sump from engine and clean it out

3/ Find local metal factor and take it to them to weld up sump hole and re-drill hole and re-thread, they even supplied a sump plug that fitted the new thread (this cost me £5.00) at my local metal factors here Croydon).

4/ Replace sump with the new gasket to bottom of engine (make sure you smear a little grease on both sides of the gasket, this stops oil leaks).

Not had a problem since.

Total cost including gasket £23.00

Oh, the bike I did this to --- ZX600R C1

Hope this helps.

[Jrod]

^^^ Sounds like a plan. Cheap aswell!

[sickpup]

[loply]

I doubt you will be able to retap that by yourself, an engineering workshop place could probably sort it for £30 - £40 or thereabouts.

Trouble with this is that if you dont have a perfect seal on that bolt, then it will always find a way to weap/leak oil, and whilst riding that oil will end up on your rear tire.

You need to find a "proper" soltuion, ie replace the sump or have it fixed profesionally.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[Ric]

how easy is the sump to remove on a zxr250? if its do-able like i think it is. theres no problem

ill have a word and get it helicoiled

[The Tot]

Cheers guys for the replies. I've got Jammy G trying to find out what he can do locally. I've temporarily reinforced the outside of the bolt, as close to the seal with quiksteel just to stop it from leaking.

It is very precarious riding the bike and i need to keep a watchful eye on the rear at all times.

I want to know if Groovearmarda's breaking his bike or looking for spares on it.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[loply]

Just a thought in the meantime you might consider lockwiring the sump plug? Wont stop it leaking, but at least it will stop the plug from moving far out and causing a major accident when your back wheel slides, and the car behind slides into you.
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!

[The Tot]

I did a 10 mile run today down fast A roads, 10,000RPM most of the time and the seal held. The liquid gasket combined with the washer was sufficient to stop it from seeping, the quiksteel did its job to hold the nut in place reinforcing the screw ( even though i did it finger tight, i used a socket to get it as tight as possible without slipping).

Seal was as dry asa bone and the bolt was nowhere near wet or damp or the slight bit oily, unlike the first time i tried to temporarily seal it. Yeah, the quiksteel served its purpose there and the bolt refuses to budge whichever way you try to push, twist or pull it.

Got quotes in the region of 40 quid for a retapping job.
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The Tot 2019 Z1000SX - 2007 R1
Never argue with autism

[loply]

I had a banjo bolt on my clutch case (M10 or so) retapped for £15, but I was able to just take in the clutch cover itself so I dunno if thats why youre quoted higher (are you going to have to take the whole thing?).
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Yamaha SZR660 Caution to the wind, the throttle pinned!