$1,000 for a drain plug sounds kind of steep.
A dealer replaces parts; a mechanic can fix them.

 

It's not that big of a job, but if you are talking about the dealer doing it they just go by the book. It will allow so many hours for each individual job, and that is what they charge. Regardless of how long it took the actual tech to do the work.

 

Explain why you think the inner has to come out. And you are saying the primary drain plug is what is leaking, correct?

 

The drain plug is on the inner primary so to change it, it would have to come off.

If you have it repaired, get a time sert and it will be permanent. Otherwise just swap the inner primary yourself. Not hard to do.

 

Yes.
When I took the plug out because I thought it was leaking, I put a new O ring on it and screwed it back in. When I tried to tighten it down to specks it would not tighten. So I took the primary cover off and saw that the drain plug hole was stripped. It was almost smooth. The HD dealership called and said new inner primary is needed. I asked about re-tapping and did not get exact answer but she said she was told it had to be replaced.

Not sure what time sert is..and I dont believe I have the right tools to take everything off in order to get the inner primary off.

 

http://www.timesert.com/ See if a machine shop would be able to install a time sert without taking the primary off. If not, you should be able to borrow the few tools needed. Not much needed to take it off.

 

I will admit, I dont think I feel that confident to take everything off to get to inner primary, plus I dont know anyone who has those tools.

 

Take it to an indy with a lift & a drill. Tell him you need a Heli-Coil insert installed in the drain hole. Can't see it costing much more than a hundred bucks start to finish as it's only about an hour's worth of work...

 

A helicoil fix is not a very big job. Nor is drilling and tapping for a larger plug.

That dealer sucks.

 

ummm...why not just run a pipe tap into the hole and get a magnetic pipe plug to put in it? Both can be purchased at your local hardware store and for less than 25 bucks (plus new oil) and about 10 minutes time you are back on the road leak free........just sayin