As of late this place is my nightly reading...wealth of knowledge and opinions...so here goes...

Picked up a good deal on my first Harley a few months back and have been going over it as time pemits...small weeps in certain common areas etc.

Changing out all the fluids...oil and primary OK...when it came time for the transmission the drain plug apears to have been rigged at some point because after removal it won't bite to tighten. Appears threads from the pan are stripped out...drain plug looks fine. Hesitant to helicoil as breaking off the tab into the transmission housing would not be good. Anyone use a time cert for this type thing? Any luck? Size needed? Suggestions as to a good fix without major tearing apart?
Thanks to any and all that wish to offer advise!

 

Man, that bites when you have a repair like that to do! Best way to repair that problem would involve tranny removal so if you can patch it until winter season, you can still ride.
You could wrap the threads of the bolt with hemp to get a tighter fit.
you could go to a auto parts store and see if rubber drain plugs are still being sold. they look like a baby bottle nipple & you shove them into the hole until the base contacts the tranny case. When you let the pressure off, the rubber gets fat inside the case & seals tight.
You could try a white plastic washer from a chevy drain plug as a spacer on your oil pan bolt & see if it will snug up with that.
Good luck, keep us posted!
Hatch.

 

Try a sump plug from an Auto Store, they come in various sizes and get one that is slightly larger so you have to tap the hole.

Way easier temporary fix than having that nagging paranoia that the plug might drop out and you get oil all over your tyre.

Other way is to pull the tab off and out.....can be done if you have the patience.

 

Heli coil it and break the tab off with a pair of needle nose pliers, it is made to break off. The threads where the plug is located is a channel and the thickness of the oil pan away from inner chest chest of the trans, you can flush any debris out by adding fluid and letting it drain.

 

Not too hard to remove the pan for repair. Just did it myself.

 

You can also go to AutoZone and get a # 1 oversize drain plug. I just went through this. Cuts new threads as you screw it in. Mechanic at the Harley dealer recommended I do this. Worked perfect.

 

Oh yea, get the standard threaded one, not metric. Just went and checked what's written on the box. It says 1/2 inch-single oversize drain plug. Same size for engine oil pan also. After I screwed mine in and snugged it up, I took it back out and poured some engine flush through it to get the chips out, then reinstalled. Previous owner of my bike overtightened everything. My oil and tranny plug were stripped.

 

Love this forum...thanks to all!

 

1/2 X 20 one time oversize plug or 1/2 X 20 one time oversize piggy back plug that is self tapping BUT it will extend from pan about 1/8 inch or just get a longer original size plug(look in the hole there is a lot of thread way up inside)

 

My 98 RK has been that way since I bought it.I used teflon on it after the 1st fluid change and the local Indy ordered me an oversized plug that came with a tap.I've been afraid to use it so for the last 3 fluid changes,I've used the teflon and I've not had any issues whatsoever.I tighten it down to where it feels nice and snug and check for drips all the time.I've never had 1 drip in 2 years!