Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

[aarontx]

Hey everyone,

I can't seem to get the lower oil drain plug off on my volvo sx cobra. I tried the wrench on the flathead screwdriver. I tried pnuematic impact wrench with a flathead bit, just bent the bit. It was not that wide of a bit though.

I tried cutting the largest flathead screwdriver I could get at the hardware store down with a hacksaw to make it thicker and wider, but still could not get it to budge. Also tried tightening and tappnig with a hammer to try and break it loose, but did not help.


I went ahead and took the drive off to grease ujoints and gimbal.


Would it work to drain the oil from the fill hole, or drain from the top dipstick hole with the drive off?



Please help if you can, thanks!!

 

[Don S]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

Would it work to drain the oil from the fill hole, or drain from the top dipstick hole with the drive off?

It wouldn't drain and you couldn't fill it thru only one open plug.

Get an impact screwdriver with the proper sized bit, or take it to a real marine tech and have them loosen it for you.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

Try a 'real' impact driver...like this one from Snap-On.

The kit has the proper wide (thick) blade that you need.

Pricey...but this is one tool that you will have buried with you, in your will!

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item...5&group_ID=223&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

 

[aarontx]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

thanks for the help guys, will buy a impact driver and try it out. thanks for the suggestions.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

Sears has one also, not so pricey.

Problem is you can't heat it. So don't try.

Did you have saltwater in the drive?

You have it off lay it on the side and pour pepsi cola on it. Let it sit and pour some more on it.

In about 2-3 hours of pouring dry it off and try it and see if it turns.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

Curious - why can't you use heat?

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

How you gonna concentrate the heat just on the screw, and not distort the surrounding metal? It's aluminum.

And maybe risk the seals?

I'm asking did you do one with heat ?

Tell you what, i would love to know how to do it.

Guys always asking me to help with stubborn screws.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

If I did I would heat the surrounding area gently with low heat.
I ask only because I have seen a mechanic use heat on the lower unit to persuade a shaft/bearing carrier free.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

He was taking a big, big risk, doing that.

45 auto when he did his skeg spent days making a heat sink to draw away the heat.

And if i remember it did distort, on one side, and he, when he went to the other side brought it back to the correct shape.

Heat travels fast on that thin metal and would also melt the seals.

In the service we used to pour pepsi on stubborn bolts and screws worked then i use it now.

I know sounds crazy.

 

[mthieme]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

I don't think he was taking a risk.
He's been doing boat mechanics professionally for 34 years.
It seemed like he knew exactly what he was doing and had done it many times before. He was explaining the process as he went along. He was very cautious using low heat and proceeded slowly. He was replacing a snapped vertical shaft in a Verado, so in that case, seals were not an issue as they were getting new ones anyway.

Sure anything can happen and does sometimes. I'm sure if I did that for a living, there would be one that went wrong somewhere along the line.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

I wouldn't even think about removing one of those screws without the proper tool, it will muck them up every time, then your SCREWED don't ask me how I know.
By the way, how many hacksaw blades does it take to cut the tip off a large screwdriver?

 

[freeone]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

since you have the drive out put in on its side and use a good penetrating fluid like liquid wrench spray every 30min for a few hours. then use a pencil torch like the ones used to solder and shrink shrink tube you can concentrate on the screw, then the impact screwdriver with heavy hammer . thats how i got mine off. good luck

 

[aarontx]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

used the impact driver and it came out. thanks for the help guys.

 

[Rocky_Road]

Re: Cant get outdrive oil drain plug off

used the impact driver and it came out. thanks for the help guys.

Cool!

Now go and change your will....