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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Stuck Sump Plug

I can not remove the sump plug on my 1500 no matter what I try it wont budge! I have hit it with the hammer put pressure on it used penetrating oil and nothing it wont budge. My proper spanner for the job seems to have burred the edges of the plug but it is stuck fast any ideas on removal would be appreciated.
C Carter

If you put enough leverage on it then it will budge.

but if you are really worried - give it some heat
C L Carter

Heat is the thing and a good grip

Not sure what the 1500 plug looks like or where it is but this is how I get plugs out

See here. http://tinyurl.com/8yx5fpo
Bob Turbo Midget England

Its just a 7.16 external square so a 7.16 spanner fits ... if needed you could weld a long rod to it... but a good whack with a hammer on the spanner did the trick for me.

Chris, if there is any rust on the outside, clean that up with a wire brush first... it might help get penetrating fluid down there.

Then try some heat.

Is the engine in the car or out? If you are working under the car its a lot harder to get a good whack on the spanner.
C L Carter

repeating and expending on what CL has put

a good releasing/penertrating fluid like PlusGas (not WD40) and someting to give increased length and leverage on the removal tool

for the good releasing/penertrating fluid to do its work it's better if the area has been cleaned of crud as much as possible

then apply and leave the good releasing/penertrating fluid as long as possible to soak in

then first try slightlty to tighten the fixing to break the crud seal before trying to loosen

if this doesn't work apply more good releasing/penertrating fluid and leave as long as possible and repeat

personally I've always found that at the most it's taken two applications of a good releasing/penertrating fluid and two ovenight soaks and not much muslce and usually just one clean, soak, tighten slightly and it's done

having the correct fitting tool is very important
Nigel Atkins

Try freeze release, (from Halfords),

Dave
Dave Barrow

I have the correct fitting square tool, the plug is very clean as are the threads? I have used plus gas and left it overnight so will give it a go tonight. Thinking I might changed tack and use my spanner and a larger hammer!
C Carter

I tried a can of freeze release Halfords stuff and gave it away as it didn't work for me

if you put the PlusGas on last night and left great, if not respray and leave as long as possoble

depending on what tool you have you might be able to use a 19mm spanner on the tool or over sleeve the handle with a length of strong metal pipe - I've a short piece that was one (short) section of the handle from a bottle jack, it doesn't extended the length of leverage much but gives a better hand grasp that helps
Nigel Atkins

Those plugs are most hateful! Any hope of getting them off usually involves a square socket or ring spanner, as the metal (cast iron) is not decent enough to transmit the force required to overcome the self locking quality of the taper thread.
Do whatever is necessary to get it out, and throw it as far as possible.
Then find a plug made out of steel with a hex head, not easy but they do exist, and sometimes come with magnets glued in to collect evil debris.

FRM
FR Millmore

worst comes to worst contact someone like Andy Jennings mg spares and see if you can get a second hand sump for a tenner or so and replace the whole thing, I may even have one in the garage which if I do you are more than welcome to for the cost of postage, as my car now has a 2.0l XE engine fitted!

Dave
D Prince

Well it is still not budging and is now very burred. I am going to have to weld a nut on I think. I would swap the sump but as the engine is full of oil I suppose that would get very messy!
C Carter

Try getting a 6" Stillson on it. Wonderful tool, the more you pull on it, the more it clamps its jaws onto the work piece. This type of thing: http://www.toolandfix.com/silverline-633620-expert-pipe-wrench-250mm.html
Andy Hock

At this point I will try anything as my garage has no power so would mean towing the car to my house to weld it!
C Carter

once the fitting id very burred the proper tools do losse their effectiveness

always put a little more good releasing/penertrating fluid on before leaving the job at the end of the session to soak

at the price of those stilsons they're worth a go especially if you can exend the handle with something

don't forget try tightening just a smidge before ondoing - if the plug tighten just a tiny amount it'll mean it will come undone keep adding a drop of PlusGas everytime you hit a tight patch and an old toothbrush to clean the threads as you go along any

sometimes the position your in means you can't make full use of major muscle groups the exext more pressure

short busts of effort are usually better than sustained straining

(I think I can guess at some of the remarks about this post)
Nigel Atkins

I bet you didn't guess this one...I'm not sure tightening a tapered plug would necessarily help.
Dave O'Neill2

er, no

well your only tigtening slightly and a smidge just to crack the crud and not your fingers, muscles, fitting

but is the engine sump plug tapered or was it the r/axle plug after all

TBH I'd forgotten the axle plugs where tapered anyway

are they tapered - can't remember

are the 1500 sump plugs tapered - sorry if they are, but it will still work as if the plug is really that tight then it wont tighten anymore anyhow so you'll have to resort to undoing
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 15/06/2012 and 17/06/2012

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