Oil change issue !

[jackvtirone]

I inadvertently applied too much torque while tightening one of my '03 Voyagers' drain bolts: can someone give me some direction on what to do next ? I think I stripped it because it doesn't get tight anymore like the other drain bolts.

[vxiirider]

Contact Carl Leo at <voyagerparts@bellsouth.net> or call him at 731-413-8666 , he is the Voyager guru for most of us and he will point you in the right direction. He was a Voyager Service Manager for years and knows this bike inside out.

[Skibou]

Been there, done that. Check carefully, because it doesn't take much over tightening to cause a crack in the threaded boss in the pan. (Ask me how I know). If that hasn't happened you can buy an oversize adapter to thread into the hole, but it's not really a good solution. I think you would be better off contacting Carl. Hopefully he'll have a pan. He shipped one to me complete with drain plugs, washers and gasket. Getting the exhaust pipes off and on will be the hardest part of the replacement, but as Carl advised me, it can be done with a little wiggling without removing the radiator. Good luck.

[voyager55]

Always torque bolts to proper specs. As you now know it will avoid problems like this.

Amazing how many people don't use a torque wrench thou

[doug of so fla]

One way to do it is to use a slightly larger tap of US thread, carefully "chase" turn & unturn and get out the shavings as you go. Then buy the larger oil plug that size. To be safe flush engine after you get done. & then be sure to get a torque wrench and use it. Maybe use less torque to be safe. The plugs are a different torque than the filter. The oil drain is just a protrusion into the oil pan and it is slotted so the oil can drain down so there is not much meat on the alum protrusion. That is why you MUST always use a torque wrench and change the alum washer once in a while. Harbor frt has a torque wrench that is good enough for this use.. Carl may have a better way or you can buy a type of insert & thread that into it. But I repaired one once with a US plug & it never had any problems. I think t was 1/2" ?

[Skibou]

I had one of those older long handle type torque wrenches that was too cumbersome to use. I figured for something this simple I could just tighten the drain plugs by feel. Big mistake. Before fitting the new pan, a quick trip to HF got me a ratchet type for less than $20.00. Perhaps not professional quality, but way better than none at all, and much cheaper and less cumbersome than replacing a pan. By the way, when I removed the old pan I was surprised at the amount of metal that had come out of that drain plug hole, another reason I was glad I replaced the pan.

[Mr Jensee]

Always torque bolts to proper specs. As you now know it will avoid problems like this.

Amazing how many people don't use a torque wrench thou

Something tells me he knows that NOW!