Maintenance - Saildrive Drain Screw Problem

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Saildrive Drain Screw Problem

Printed From: Laser 28 International Class Association
Category: Laser 28 General
Forum Name: Maintenance
Forum Description: All the things to care for your boat
URL: http://www.laser28.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=718
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 10:33am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: Saildrive Drain Screw Problem

Posted By: Vance Newell
Subject: Saildrive Drain Screw Problem
Date Posted: 09 August 2015 at 11:01am

The drain screw on my saildrive was repaired at some point with some epoxy and a helicoil that has given up, leaving a messy, oversized drain hole. The mechanic is recommending replacing the lower saildrive housing. There was also water in with the gear oil, possibly leaking around the shaft seal or I'm thinking more likely around the drain screw. Haven't been able to get the prop off yet to look at the shaft seal because the set screws are stuck. Next is to try to take off the prop without removing the blades.

Would it be possible/a good solution to drill out the drain screw and tap it for a larger size plug? Epoxy and some sort of insert allowing for the standard size screw? Other ideas? Anyone have a spare lower housing piece?

Thanks!

Replies:

Posted By: Mike V
Date Posted: 11 August 2015 at 6:55am

Check out timesert.com. They make a stainless insert that could probably repair your sail drive. It is a threaded plug insert, unlike heli coils that are just the tread portion.

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Sparkplug

Hull #182

NYC

Posted By: Vance Newell
Date Posted: 11 August 2015 at 1:08pm

Thanks Mike! We are going to repair the drain hole with epoxy this time and see how the rest of the drive holds up. The zinc mounting holes had also been repaired, but the shaft seal looks good/recently replaced. Hopefully it all holds together for at least a few years. I may be in the market for a replacement leg in the future.

The timesert seems like a much more substantial option than a helicoil.

Vance

Posted By: frfletch
Date Posted: 14 August 2015 at 7:46pm

The oil plug screw is not a difficult fix. Many ways to do it. First, there is a lot of meat back there on that area of the leg. I think the original plug is a 5mm screw. It is easy to drill and tap it with something a bit larger, such as a 1/4" x 28 tpi, and obviously change he screw to suit.

An epoxy such as J-Weld would work as well for the oil plug, providing that you can get the hole clean enough to fill. Likely oil will want to keep dripping out of there which won't make it easy. Again it is a matter of filling, drilling, then tapping with 5mm.

You can't use J-Weld on the zinc mounting holes, however, because you need the screws to have conductivity with the metal of the leg. The easiest thing to do with that is to fill the old holes with epoxy and abandon them, then rotate the hole pattern and drill and tap new holes to mount the zinc.

Regarding the removal of your prop, you do not need to loosen the allen screws to get the prop off. Just take out the cotter pin, take off the nut with your fingers, and remove the prop.

Posted By: bal149
Date Posted: 18 August 2015 at 9:34am

to stop oil from dripping in the drain hole, I would suggest you shove a piece of bread in there. If you can't get it out once you have finished there is no real problem as the oil will break it up once the drive is engaged. Then flush . Plumbers do this when soldering copper pipes to keep water away

Posted By: Vance Newell
Date Posted: 26 August 2015 at 11:11am

Rotating the zinc is a great idea! I will do it next time she is out of the water - they were able to use the existing holes this time. They were also able to get the drain hole clean enough to epoxy, so that is done. Going to leave it with no drain until next service to eliminate that as a possible source of the water leaking in. Great ideas! Thank you for your suggestions! Hoping to finally be in the water by this weekend.