pipe plugs and thread sealant

[Soundguy]

Don't be afraid to use it!

Most of the old tractors I work on have pipe plugs as drain plugs, level check plugs, and sometimes, fill plugs. 99% of the ones I remove have no thread sealant onthem and instead are just torqued in to 50bajeeberthousand foot pounds till the threads roll over round... then when the plug is too worn to seal good, the previous owner just torqued it down a lil more,

A 1$ tube of thread sealant would have sure made my life easier last night

I was servicing my 1963 ford 4000 I got last week, and one of the 1/4" pipe plugs in a final drive sump was quite fond of it's living arangements. I tried various wrenches, pipe wrenches and vice grips.. tried some smart taps on it with a hammer to swage the threads. tried the blue wrench.. nocingg did much more than agggrivate the head.

Finally resorted to left hand drill bits and started small, and drilled up till I got my 5/16 thru the plug.. not much metal left inthe plug so I finally felt safe with a spiral fluted extractor.. i got lucky and it worked.. plug had rounded threads all the way up to the top. I ran a chase intot he sump and it's threads were fine. A new 18 cent pipe plug from the hardware store seale dthe sump nicely, with a smear of thread compound and moderate hand pressure.

EVERY plug I remove gets sealant when it goes back in, and no plug gets re-used unless it looks like it is 95% new, threads AND head.

just thought I might pass that along and save you or the next owner of your tractor some trouble down the road.

at least I got to try out my new set of lefty bits though

soundguy

 

[Cami]

I never felt the need to use sealant on drain plugs.

As for those left-handed bits, make sure you keep them well separated from the common ones or you might find yourself leaning hard into a drill and wondering why it's not cutting....

One advantage of having npt drain plugs is you can put a nipple on it to extend the drain out where it's easier to get at; it's very handy.

 

[Soundguy]

I don't want any extended drains on the bottom of my tractor.. too many things to catch on them.

IMHO.. sealant is a plus.. less torque needed to to seal via thread deformation.. which is what taper plugs rely upon. less torque on.. less torque off.. plus most sealants will help prevent galling and or threads rusting together. all win-win .

soundguy

 

[nue2farm]

I agree, sealant on pipe threads works wonders. I have used teflon tape and #5, non hardening pipe sealer for years, with great results. :thumbsup:

May seem like overkill to some, but, it worked for 37 years in the Boiler

Plant I worked in, prior to retirement.

 

[eepete]

What would be a good example of an appropriate sealant to use on a drain plug?

 

[actionaj]

I prefer using Teflon tape on anything that has to be removed frequently. I think it protects the threads a lot better than liquid sealant. Also it is lot less messy and much easier to clean. IMO

 

[Soundguy]

What would be a good example of an appropriate sealant to use on a drain plug?

I like gasoila

soundguy

 

[DanD78]

Another vote for the #5 pipe dope. I use it on everything. Neverseize is another good thing to use on bolts and such. If there is even a remote chance I will be the next guy taking something apart I use it.

Dan

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. I put stuff together thinking what I would want to take apart. no gluing gaskets down with a tube of silicone caulk with it extruded out everywhere.. etc.

soundguy

 

[eepete]

I went to the Gasoila web site, and there are a lot products listed under "Pipe Thread Sealants". Soundguy, can you narrow it down a bit for me ?

tia

Pete