Stuck gearbox drain plug

Hi everyone,

just a little bit of advice needed. Thanks in advance!

The drain plug for the gearbox is stuck (the filler is off already).

I'm got a bolt with some nuts and am hitting the spanner with a big hammer, with no luck.
I could hit harder but the box is jumping around pretty well with the hammer strikes- any danger of buggering it up if I go max power? ;-)

Also can I use a torch on the box around the nut? I seem to remember somewhere its a magnesium alloy and might not be very happy with heat and fire.

Over cautious perhaps..........?

 

Get the proper tool... 17mm hex driver on a half inch socket

Works every time

 

^this. You can get a 17mm hex socket in Halfords. Don't hammer, or you'll bust something...

 

Heat up the case around the drain plug ith a heat gun, this helps a lot.
Tony

 

It's a cast box so you risk breaking it. No substitute for the correct tool

 

ta chaps, I'll go and find the 1/2" drive. I could only find the 3/8" from the normal sources. cheers

 

try tightening it slightly first... then loosen. I ended up using plusgas on my filler plug, that was well stuck in there.

 

You can add one more to your 'every time'

I'm now the proud owner of a set of half a dozen drain plug keys for very many varying gearboxes

 

Any good ideas how to get the residual black gunk out of the bottom of the box? I can feel it if I stick me finger up the 'ole, ooh err!

 

Bit of flushing oil and a good shake? The gunk's not doing any harm if it won't come out.