Hilton

Timely bump.. I just tried to remove one from one of my S4's. Tried beating on it with a hammer and punch, drilling through it and soaking both ends in penetrating oil, followed by a series of left-handed drill bits up to 1/2" hoping one would bite and unscrew the remains of the bung.

All to no avail. Damn

In the process, the front cap and un-threaded part of the plug came out.. leaving the threaded section neatly stuck in there.

So next up is getting a 21/32 drill bit, and seeing if I can extract whats left of the plug from the threads. (shank diameter of the threaded part of a tow eye measures 16.6mm - i.e. 21/32").

I had to get my 87 towed a couple of weeks ago.. so now I'm on a mission to get the plugs out of my S4's

jpitman2

He He, you should have checked your plugs before I shipped the tool to the US! Tassy Dave did....
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k

Hilton

Aye, its not one of things I really considered until I needed to get towed whilst holding up traffic on the approach to the harbour tunnel Turned out to be a minor problem (throttle ball cup popped off, most likely due to not being properly seated by me during intake refresh), but I was already here and couldn't pull over, so I was forced to sit and wait while tunnel control sent two trucks.

I'm resigned to picking out the aluminium from the threads after drilling with a 21/32" bit and then wire-wheeling it clean with my dremel's long extension.

I did enquire about buying a tap but at my first quote price of $US255, its something probably best left to the 928oc to do, and I'll wait until your tap returns to Oz Interestingly the place in Florida sources from a factory in Poland, so I suspect its possible to get one *much* cheaper from Eastern Europe. I'll fire off a couple of e-mails and see what I can come up with.. if I can get it under $100 I'll just buy one as I'm sure there are locals who could use it too (they just don't know it yet!)

jpitman2

We have some Poles working in our China plant, I will see if they can make enquiries....
jp 83 Euro S AT 54k

inactiveuser1

+1
Almost 3 months who has it now?

fraggle

I was hoping to have it at Frenzy in a couple weeks....

Stromius

I'd be up for tapping my tow eye. Is this the list or another thread??

inactiveuser1

This is the list ,last update was post #113

jpitman2

Hilton, that is an UGLY place for it to die!!
I have been quoted $110 each for two from India, also trying a Polish source now....Might have to buy the toolmakers some more Black Duck Soup -
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Premium-E...item2a23222628

jp 83 Euro S AT 54k

inactiveuser1

Or is there even a plan anymore?
4 months and no updates who has it?

Alan

Guys - Sorry for the long silence on this.

Months ago the tap died when someone was using it - its actually made up in two parts - the hardened steel tap about 4.5" long and an extension shaft in milder steel to make the total length up to about 9".

Seems the two parts are joined with a socket joint originally pinned somehow. JP didn't seem to know the full details. It seems the pin had sheered off and the two parts just rotated - not very useful.

I have been crazy busy the last few months (and still) travelling a lot- so getting it fixed was a pain - I did find a good welding shop and we V-grooved the joint and welded it back together with a good sized bead ground flush. Back out to the same user and - Boom! - busted again - this time it just ripped the mild steel apart at the weld - I fear the extension shaft is just too soft for a good repair.

I've had it back for a while (a long while) now but just haven't really had a good plan of how to fix it (nor the time to get it to a shop)...

However I will. I have a new plan to just cut off the mild steel part and grind a square section on the end that will just fit tightly into a 1/2 socket extension. It appears there is room for this to fit in the grill area in use and its an easy way to extend it variously with some good flexibility.

Mark proposd this fix before - well you were right - it seems the best option - though I'm opting for a standard 1/2 drive extension for cost reasons...

I will have some progress on this soon. I'll be at Sharktoberfest and hope to have it ready by then
- any takers for that? Then it will have to get shipped back out for use by the next in line.

Alan

Alan

OK so as noted above - the tap is now repaired.

As planned I just cut off the mild steel portion - it was a very thin sleeve over the hardened steel - probably why it let go so easily. Ground a 1/2" square section on the end that fits snugly in a 1/2" socket drive extension. I will provide one to make up to the original length with the tap - you can add another or longer one - if a longer portion is needed. since the extension is used essentilaly backwards - it helps to have a socket wrench with a female socket (I have one that works well) - otherwise just use a regular wrench on the end - in that respect its the same configuration as the original tap.

Donald - sorry for the long delay - its ready to come back out to you after Sharktoberfest - or perhaps before if there are no takers for the event.

Then - Normal service will be resumed!

Alan

inactiveuser1

Thats what I was trying to say in post #106 forget about welding and grind the square on the tap as what they use in tap entensions.Same idea just a different size square.
Thanks on updates and the fix.

Alan

Updated List is currently: (if you are on this list I have your details no action needed to stay there).

1 CraigL (St. Louis) -> $50 Rcvd - Tap Sent 2/7/12 -> Delivered 2/10/2012 -> Craig $32.20 (gross) refunded to your Paypal.
- 1a byrdman454 (St. Louis) Sent Back 2/21/12, Rcvd 2/23/12
2 AO (Nr. Detroit) - >$50 Rcvd - Tap Sent 2/26/12 Rcvd 3/24/12, Andrew $32.20 (gross) refunded to your Paypal.
3 Whitesands (Florida Panhandle) >$50 Rcvd - Tap sent 3/26/12, Rcvd 4/06/12 Ivan $32.20 (gross) refunded to your Paypal
4 90 S-4 (OC - California) $50 Rcvd - Tap sent 4/7/12, Delivered 4/9/12, Joe $32.20 (gross) refunded to your Paypal
- 4a Rob Edwards (Irvine CA) Sent Back 4/11/12, Rcvd 4/13/12
5 jthwan22 (Central NJ) $50 Rcvd - Tap Sent 4/13/12, Delivered 4/16/12, Rcvd 4/23/12 James $32.20 (gross) refunded to your Paypal.
6 Donald (Houston Area) $50 Rcvd, Tap Re-Sent (post 2nd repair) 10/23/12
7 shadowknight (Clearwater FL) << next up
8 auzivision (Indianapolis)
9 fraggle (Northern VA)
10 Ed Scherer (Nr Kansas City)
11 M928 (Niagara County NY)


Not sure if you need this ? - go out & see if you can remove your front towing eye bung - don't wait till you need it in an emergency...!

Folks - please try to set up group use session if possible (local gathering etc), Please take pictures & make notes on results & techniques - & post back here...

The tap is now repaired & back out to Donald - its now cut down to a single hardened steel tap section plus a 1/2" socket extension drive- both provided.

Alan

fraggle

Thanks for the updates!!