Middle/ Final Gear screw problem

[Andrew Grod]

I have a problem I recentally have tried to replace my middle and final gear oil but cant get the screws to release. Are these screws reverse threaded? They wont budge at all. Also stupidly I rounded off the tops. Does anyone sell a replacement screw that would make changing the oil in the future easier? I have been spraying WD-40 on them every night.

Thanks,

Andrew Grod

[Bubba1954]

Andrew,

I just changed both gearbox fluids on my recently purchased '79 XSEleven. Both filler and drain bolts were very tight to break loose at first. but once they popped loose they turned very easy. They felt like lug nuts tightened up with an impact wrench.

If you tried to loosen these bolts with a standard allen wrench instead of a metric version this might have allowed too much play and caused them to round off much easier.

You might try using the next up sized wrench ether metric or standard to get a tighter fit now that they are rounded off. If that does not work an easy out might work to screw into the allen hole to back the bolts out. You better plan to replace the bolts if you use an easy out. It will likely chew up the holes so bad that no allen wrench can ever be used in them again.

[pathfinder]

had the same problem

I was able to get mine out without damage. But if you have already rounded off, I'd try a male torx with socket back end and pound it in then you can put on a 3/8 drive ratchet with a cheater. Torx is much sharper and will broach a new hole much easier. Pounding should also help loosen the plug just like an impact driver. In fact now that I say that, I used an impact driver with an allen type socket. It's how I did it without damage. Good luck and the threads are right hand. The only LH thread I've found is the RH mirror.

[John]

If the allen hex is rounded, and all else fails, the use a chisel on the edge of the fill plug, and turn it in a counter-clockwise direction. Also use a PROPANE torch to heat the metal around the fill plug. The flame won't be hot enough to melt the aluminum housing, but it will expand it enough to help break it loose.

[skids]

before using a torche, You might be able to find a big easy-out that is just right.