Oil pan drain bolt repair

Hi TW,

My son broke off an oil pan drain bolt in his dirt bike. I had to drill the broken bolt out, but managed to nick the sides of the inside thread.

My first repair involved an oversized bolt, with a smaller piggy back bolt in it. I used JB Weld extreme heat to secure the bolt in the broken threads. My son proceeded to break that off right on the first oil change.

Second repair involved an Ecoplug

$22 ECO-PLUG - Oil Drain Plug for Damaged Aluminum Oil Pan - Tapered Thread Size 12mm-16mm, 3/4" Short Thread, Non-Recessed Drain Hole

https://www.amazon.ca/ECO-PLUG-Alum...e28fcc875ca236af9f19609a5543f975&gad_source=1

I still had to use JB Weld around it to make sure there are no gaps.

QUESTION:
Is JB Weld extreme heat going to withstand contact with engine oil?
Does anyone have experience with using that product on an oil pan?

 

It will hold up OK to the oil if bonding surfaces are super clean to start. It's been years since I messed with JB WEld on engines, and the product I used years ago held up to oil OK, but it's more rigid and will crack

That said, get the kid a torque wrench and shorter box ends and weaker arms

All this junk may as well try but ultimately will fail at some point.......vs a new case.........

 

Hahaha, I laughed at the torque wrench and weaker arms.

I thought I had it cleaned well the first time, but I didn't watch him wrench it off. Maybe he went rightey-loosey again, since he's looking at it upside down.

 

I wonder if a tap and heli coil would have worked the first time? No idea on the JB weld holding up. I suppose permatex black gasket maker could be used if JB weld doesn't hold up.

 

The way the inside threads broke off, I'm not sure heli coil has much to grab onto.

The other problem with Heli coil is I can't find it locally, it's really expensive. But so was that ecoplug, I just thought the tapered design might have a better chance to grab and seal. Jb weld is just to fill any leftover gaps, and maybe add extra strength.

 

What bike? How old?

Maybe find a basket case with killed top end, but good case

 

I think it is 2010 klx 250 f

New case is the next step, but hoping to get this going before it comes to that

 

Go back to the oversize bolt but don't use JB weld, degrease WELL and use red locktite on the threads and let it set.

 

Repair number 2 (ecoplug with jb) is done, and looks like it might hold. Will be testing it later on today.

If it breaks, I might try your idea before going with a new case