How to remove knackered Drain plug?

barryd

barryd

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I dont know how else to describe it. When draining down back end of last year I accidently put my screwdriver right through the plastic drain plug on the exterior of the Carver hot water tank. I need to replace it but I now cannot get it out and all attempts to do so have just made the hole bigger. There was a slot on the middle of it when it was solid plastic where you would unscrew it with a large flat screwdriver or even a kitchen knife. Now there is just a big hole. I cant get pliers on it and I have tried stuffing the pliers in the hole to see if I could turn it but not joy.

Short of getting a whole replacement tank I cant really use the van until its sorted. Any ideas?

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First take the out side cover off, Run a drill though it first to make the wall thinner then bend the tip of a small screwdriver and work the rest out. Dont forget to clean the thread out before you put the new one in
 
Done it!!! I see this as a chest thumping victory today for me!! I have a list of stuff which never seems to get fixed so this is finally one to tick off the list.

It was stubborn though. Someone suggested getting a hacksaw blade in and sawing through the old bung. I did indeed manage to get a small hacksaw blade in but despite sawing it in three different places it refused to budge. This is probably a bad idea but I squirted it with WD40 then after that got my pliers in and it started to disintegrate. I was then able to actually get hold of it and unscrew it and I think I got all the bits out. I have ordered a replacement which hopefully is the right one. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403452694756?hash=item5defa790e4:g:YUIAAOSw5cph~sp5

Will try and give the hole a good clean to get rid of the WD40 as it wont do the plastics and rubber any good on the new one I guess.

thanks for the tips!
 
Robmac said:
Blimey Barry, you're practically an engineer now!
Click to expand...

LOL! I wish.

I now just have to figure out the cold starting issue on the van which has been going on for years, why they little Honda now refuses to start and why my stupid Hyundai car has become possessed and keeps turning its brake lights on when there is nobody in it. On the plus side I think I might have also fixed the misting coolant leak on the Piaggio!!

I wish I had learned all this stuff years ago because getting anyone to fix anything out here is nigh on impossible. :(
 
Just had a customer of the ph with same trouble on a power lift ram/pump on a Merc outboard, instructed him to heat a large screwdriver of flat bit of metal, then ram it in and squirt cold water on it to harden the plastic and then twist out, he is just of the blower to say he succeeded.
 
barryd said:
Done it!!! I see this as a chest thumping victory today for me!! I have a list of stuff which never seems to get fixed so this is finally one to tick off the list.

It was stubborn though. Someone suggested getting a hacksaw blade in and sawing through the old bung. I did indeed manage to get a small hacksaw blade in but despite sawing it in three different places it refused to budge. This is probably a bad idea but I squirted it with WD40 then after that got my pliers in and it started to disintegrate. I was then able to actually get hold of it and unscrew it and I think I got all the bits out. I have ordered a replacement which hopefully is the right one. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/403452694756?hash=item5defa790e4:g:YUIAAOSw5cph~sp5

Will try and give the hole a good clean to get rid of the WD40 as it wont do the plastics and rubber any good on the new one I guess.

thanks for the tips!
Click to expand...
Yep that looks about right
 
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