Swivel Housing Drain Plug Size

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84ninety

Active Member
Posts
194
Location
Devon
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
 
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.
 
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?
 
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!!!
 
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.
 
@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.
 
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!!
 
Plusgas [soak for a couple of nights if needed]
ae235


+Rothenberger Super Fire II [these are the best torches and work at all angles/upside down]
ae235


+MappGas
ae235


= Job done [Screwfix has all of these] :)
 
Plusgas [soak for a couple of nights if needed]
ae235


+Rothenberger Super Fire II [these are the best torches and work at all angles/upside down]
ae235


+MappGas
ae235


= Job done [Screwfix has all of these] :)
Thanks for these tips, looks like a proper job blow lamp! ;-)
 
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?
20211208_130610.jpg
 
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"
 
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.
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20220130_113320.jpg
20220210_070055.jpg
20220215_125951.jpg
20220216_070246.jpg
 
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