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Oil drain stripped? Prevent

4883 Views 42 Replies 23 Participants Last post by  808Dreaming
Anyone know the exact size of the oil drain holes? I have use these on several vehicles Dorman Products - 092-007 and would like to purchase for my RM as a preventive measure.
In addition to preventing stripping the hole, they also make it a tool free operation and less messy.
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Looks like a great product IF they fit. I don't see indian listed as a product -- it'd have to be a perfect fit. Keep us posted as to what you find out.
Nice idea. It'll be a couple months before I am changing my oil, to measure the threads. As Hink says, let us know if you hear in the mean time.
Anyone know the exact size of the oil drain holes? I have use these on several vehicles Dorman Products - 092-007 and would like to purchase for my RM as a preventive measure.
In addition to preventing stripping the hole, they also make it a tool free operation and less messy.
I had made a note on my I Phone from a post on this subject and I have the size for Oil Drain Plug Tap and Die for my Chieftain listed as a M12x1.5 perhaps some others will weigh in.
You better be careful! This plugs sticks out away from the pan. The factories are flush as they should be. If you bottom the bike out on a hump, railroad, trailer ramp etc you will break it off and lose your oil. If you'll just use a hand held allen wrench and tighten the plug three fingers tight you won't have to worry about stripping these things out. Either way you're going to get some oil on your hands.
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I will add that this was only an issue with the 14 and 15 Indians. They have re-done the case to have a beefier bottom where the plugs are located. Haven't heard of a single 16 or 17 being stripped.
You better be careful! This plugs sticks out away from the pan. The factories are flush as they should be. If you bottom the bike out on a hump, railroad, trailer ramp etc you will break it off and lose your oil. If you'll just use a hand held allen wrench and tighten the plug three fingers tight you won't have to worry about stripping these things out. Either way you're going to get some oil on your hands.
About 1/2 inch. If your scrapping that close, you have more issues than that.
Agree completely with @geewago. As nice as an easy drain would be, these bikes run close to the ground, and anything protruding is a potential target, even on a speed bump/hump. Those plugs work much better for drain holes that are on the back or side of an automotive (rarely on bikes) oil pan.
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About 1/2 inch. If your scrapping that close, you have more issues than that.
I'm aware that it wouldn't happen very often. But just a few weeks ago I was riding with 6 other guys and we stopped in a little one horse town at the only restaurant available. Parking was full and everybody was utilizing an old lot across the street. It had hills and valleys, rocks and potholes of all kinds. An obstacle course practically. We helped a Harley boy get his bike unstuck as he had failed to navigate between every hole just right. He was high centered and his back wheel was just free wheeling. It can happen.
Anyone know the exact size of the oil drain holes? I have use these on several vehicles Dorman Products - 092-007 and would like to purchase for my RM as a preventive measure.
In addition to preventing stripping the hole, they also make it a tool free operation and less messy.
Did we have this problem with the last Harley? LOL
I'm aware that it wouldn't happen very often. But just a few weeks ago I was riding with 6 other guys and we stopped in a little one horse town at the only restaurant available. Parking was full and everybody was utilizing an old lot across the street. It had hills and valleys, rocks and potholes of all kinds. An obstacle course practically. We helped a Harley boy get his bike unstuck as he had failed to navigate between every hole just right. He was high centered and his back wheel was just free wheeling. It can happen.
We had this extremely HOT smoking Mexican girl at the last Phoenix area store I had on my route and she graduated from a Sportster to a bigger model. Cant remember exactly what it was. So the mechanics all huddled together and decided that lowering the big like 3 inches would be the cure for her straddling the seat. Although I must admit that if I were in charge here with her, she would always be on the back of my bike real close but anyways.........she must have got high centered on parking lot speed bumps especially at malls every two weeks and there goes the parts truck with a couple of eager volunteers to push her off of the bump. Bike looked cool, looked cool with her on it no matter lowered or not, and this was such a common deal that she got rid of it and went to something with higher clearance again a few years later.
Here is a lowered one waiting to be high centered........LOL
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Like the concept.

Just took a look under mine and there are a few things sticking down that could be damaged in a bottom out, or if one were to run over road debris.

Risk versus reward.

Does the reward outweigh the 'potential' risk? Seems to me that's a personal choice. ;)
You got to admit it..........lowered looks cool
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I make shore I replace the copper washers with new ones and tighten the drain plugs to 10lbs only not the 15lbs thats recommended
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You may also want to add some anti-seize to those treads...
I will add that this was only an issue with the 14 and 15 Indians. They have re-done the case to have a beefier bottom where the plugs are located. Haven't heard of a single 16 or 17 being stripped.
Is that a confirmed change to the 16+ models? When I changed my oil for the first time the other day I was worried but there was no issue. I torqued the plugs to 100 inch lbs which I figure was more than enough to seal the crush washers. By the way, the oem crush washers I got at the dealer were aluminum not copper. Wonder if that's a new change also.
I will add that this was only an issue with the 14 and 15 Indians. They have re-done the case to have a beefier bottom where the plugs are located. Haven't heard of a single 16 or 17 being stripped.
That's comforting. I have a '16, didn't know they were different. Never worried about it much before, just tightened it up to what I though was reasonable for aluminum and no issues. After reading this thread and the other about stripped threads, I got a bit nervous.

Would there be any advantage to using teflon tape?
I just mailed Dorman with a few questions..........
I'm aware that it wouldn't happen very often. But just a few weeks ago I was riding with 6 other guys and we stopped in a little one horse town at the only restaurant available. Parking was full and everybody was utilizing an old lot across the street. It had hills and valleys, rocks and potholes of all kinds. An obstacle course practically. We helped a Harley boy get his bike unstuck as he had failed to navigate between every hole just right. He was high centered and his back wheel was just free wheeling. It can happen.
I dont take my 30k RM off roading.
Anyone know the exact size of the oil drain holes? I have use these on several vehicles Dorman Products - 092-007 and would like to purchase for my RM as a preventive measure.
In addition to preventing stripping the hole, they also make it a tool free operation and less messy.
Service Manual says they are M12 X 1.5 as wvmtn says. I'm surprised they call for 15 ft lbs torque. That seems high to me, but who am I to argue with the man.

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