Saildrive plug removal.

Started by Salty, June 29 2014, 11:16

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Salty

Hi All,
I'm having a problem to remove the plug at the bottom of my 120s saildrive leg to facilitate oil changes. An ordinary screwdriver tends to be too small, and fashioning a piece of steel to fit the slot tends to make the steel a bit soft such that it bends or slips out before I can loosen the plug. Does anyone know of a suitable tool that can be used. I have got an impact driver which I'm sure would do the job, but I hesitate to use it incase I end up needing to buy a new saildrive after using it. For the last two years I've resorted to sucking the oil out using a thin tube through the dipstick hole, but I'm afraid that something important might get missed.
Has anyone got any helpful thoughts on the matter? 

MIA

If you can manage to get a good quality screw driver with a hex fitting on the shaft below the handle, push the screw driver into the slot with a good bit of pressure and turn the screw driver with a shifter or right sized spanner. If you have any anti-foul over the plug clean it away first.

Remember lefty loosy and righty tighty as an old mechie would say  ;)

Stevie

Moodymike

I put the the largest screwdriver bit from my impact screwdriver into a socket head ratchet wrench which gave plenty leverage to turn the screw

Salty

Thanks MIA and Moodymike for your suggested methods, I like the idea of putting the impact driver bit into a ratchet spanner as the ratchet has a big enough end on it to enable me to put some pressure on while turning, and the impact driver bit is bigger and more meaty than an ordinary screwdriver.
I will also get a new plug for the saildrive as the screwdriver slot in the existing plug I reckon must be a bit worn by now.
Thanks again guys. 

Graysailing

Hi
I had the same problem on my Bavaria 38 in the end, when I came to change the Sail Drive rubber I undid the bolts holding the shaft and just pulled it out slowly and let the oil go into a bucket,