Thread: Slotted Diff drain plugs

I will be dumping the oil in both diffs before my next trip so I have ordered some new plugs to replace the crappy plastic ones that are in the diffs at the moment.
The filler plugs are slotted and the drain plugs have the 1/2 inch square in them, I should be able to knock something up from the junk in the shed to make a tool for the slotted plugs

Originally Posted by trout1105

I have ordered some new plugs to replace the crappy plastic ones that are in the diffs at the moment.
The filler plugs are slotted and the drain plugs have the 1/2 inch square in them

Plastic !

Make sure the drain plugs do not hang below the lip around the drain hole. Someone fitted a cast iron plug with a raised square head in the Salisbury fitted to my Dormobile. They then dragged the axle over something and sheared the head off so now no way of gripping it to remove it ! Looks like drill, get covered in oil, then use an easyout.....whether it comes out easy I'll find out at the time.

I also have a couple of axles where the raised lip has been bent in making it difficult to remove the standard slotted brass plug.


Colin

what a difference a little bit of knowledge makes

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Thanks for input, one more little question would annealing the copper washers make them re usable?

Cheers Paul

Originally Posted by bemm52

what a difference a little bit of knowledge makes

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Thanks for input, one more little question would annealing the copper washers make them re usable?

Cheers Paul

Funny, I always reused them. I know, I know, but never had one leak. So, I imagine annealing couldn't hurt. I always just made sure they were clean and undamaged. The Base workshops might have had 150 steering relays in stock, but coper washers were often rare.

I would anneal the washer. Heat till cherry red, then drop in cold water.
Look what I found. Knew I had see one like Rogers before.

whitehillbilly

Originally Posted by johntins

Funny, I always reused them. I know, I know, but never had one leak. So, I imagine annealing couldn't hurt. I always just made sure they were clean and undamaged. The Base workshops might have had 150 steering relays in stock, but coper washers were often rare.

The originals were/are thin copper folded/rolled over a few times and they seem to re-seal without annealing. If you do anneal them the oil trapped in the folds tends to smoke a bit....
Last ones I ordered from the UK were a fairly thick plain copper washer which would probably have to be annealed to re-seal.


Colin

They say there is no such thing as a dumb question...so here goes...what is the process of annealing and why is it done?...put simply please.

Originally Posted by Gordie

They say there is no such thing as a dumb question...so here goes...what is the process of annealing and why is it done?...put simply please.

Certain metals like copper age harden (and work harden)

Annealing is a matter of heating the metal up to a dull cherry red and allowing to cool in air.
This makes the metal softer (or annealed)
This allows it to conform to the harder metal surface (in this case the steel housing) better when tightened so it seals.