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07-14-2015, 08:24 AM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1993 21' Sovereign
Scaly Mountain
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 15
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Water Heater Drain Plug Broken
Stupidly, I over torqued the plastic water heater drain plug and broke it off in the water heater. I've tried digging the plastic from the internal thread to no avail. I bought a tap to clean the plastic out but can't get it started. Any suggestions?
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07-14-2015, 09:00 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Thankfully I have not had that problem. Something like this might work.
Screw Extractor Set 12 Pc
Or using progressively larger drill bits, drill the plug out a bit at a time. Carefully as to not damage the threads.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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07-14-2015, 09:03 AM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1987 32' Excella
Nepean
, Ontario
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,414
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The extractor awchief suggests should work fine. Then replace the plstic/nylon plug with a brass fitting that has a valve on it - makes for emptying the tank much easier (for winterizing) and will not break like the plastic/nylon one.
__________________
VE3JDZ
AIR 12148
1987 Excella 32-foot
1999 Dodge Ram 2500HD Diesel
WBCCI 8080
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07-14-2015, 09:24 AM
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#4
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1 Rivet Member
1993 21' Sovereign
Scaly Mountain
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 15
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I have most of the plastic out except for that left in the threads. I've not been able remove that.
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07-14-2015, 09:26 AM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Time to dig out the dental pick.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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07-14-2015, 09:33 AM
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#6
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1 Rivet Member
1993 21' Sovereign
Scaly Mountain
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 15
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Thanks, I'll find one.
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07-14-2015, 09:37 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
Princeton
, New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
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You may have to make a pick strong enough to work those treads.
If you grind a pick I would heat it with a torch just before applying it to the treads. Hopefully that will cause the pick to melt into the tread and thus get a better grip. Once you break one tread it should be easy to peal the rest out.
Since that is a tapered thread I would start about half way and work the inner treads free first.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles
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07-14-2015, 09:49 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Burlington
, Ontario
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,743
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An "Easy out" which is sort of like a reverse threaded tapered screw should bring it out without problem - you would need to drill a small pilot hole in the broken plastic pug in order to start the "Easy Out" into the plug.
Brian.
__________________
Brian & Connie Mitchell
2005 Classic 30'
Hensley Arrow / Centramatics
2008 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD,4x4,Crew Cab, Diesel, Leer cap.
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07-14-2015, 10:03 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wingeezer
An "Easy out" which is sort of like a reverse threaded tapered screw should bring it out without problem - you would need to drill a small pilot hole in the broken plastic pug in order to start the "Easy Out" into the plug.
Brian.
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See post #4
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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07-14-2015, 10:06 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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If this happens to anyone else, at the underground sprinkler section of your local hardware store, or big box store like Home Depot, they have what is called a nipple extractor. Generally under $5. You can drill a pilot hole in the plug and put the extractor in and unscrew the plug.
It would be of no use now to the OP as he is down to the plastic in the threads, but the product and advice might help someone else who is just starting out with a broken plastic plug.
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07-14-2015, 10:27 AM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
1972 27' Overlander
Woodburn
, Oregon
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 131
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Snap on makes great small picks that would work great for this purpose , I use them all the time to remove " O " rings in small engine carbs you just have to find one of there trucks to buy one or you can order on line
Bob
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07-14-2015, 11:27 AM
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#12
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1 Rivet Member
2020 23' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 15
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Thanks!
I read these threads every day and I'm grateful for the shared knowledge. In this instance I was amazed by the effort you responders put in to help out, especially Idroba's contribution. It was helpful beyond the call. Thank you!
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07-14-2015, 12:19 PM
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#13
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,403
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I like to pull the plug annually so that I can scour out the insides of the tank. The original plug got a seam in it and started to drip. I went over to the local SOB dealership who is close to home and bought 3 black plugs. That way I carry a couple of extras in case one fails.
Galvanic corrosion can occur when dissimilar metals have contact with each other. Aluminum and brass are reactive to each other with aluminum acting as the anode. My Atwood tank in my Airstream is aluminum. Suburban branded tanks tend to be steel and have an anode rod in them to minimize corrosion.
https://www.fastenal.com/content/fed...0Corrosion.pdf
I imagine that other than cost factors, an aluminum tank is really better off using a nylon replacement plug to help maintain tank life. That's pretty much why I scour the tank annually to remove the deposits in the tank, and continue to use nylon plugs. I use a small adjustable crescent wrench to remove the plug. It works pretty good and doesn't scar the nut end. In addition I do wrap some teflon tape around the plug threads prior to reinsertion. That minimizes the amount of tightness you need to exert to keep the plug from leaking around the threads.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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07-14-2015, 01:10 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
1999 25' Safari
Currently Looking...
Sparks
, Nevada
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 48
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Drain Plug
I too have had this wonderful experience.
What I did was to use a sprinkler system riser removal tool to get the old plug out. That was however just the beginning. Seems that all the Teflon tape that I used over the years has become one with the water heater. I could not get a plastic plug to start SOooo I used a brass plug that I cut several slots across the treads to in affect make a tap. After several times of starting the plug into the heater enough Teflon was removed that I could get my new plastic (nylon) plug to start. I did use a dental pick to remove most of the remaining Teflon tape. I then found a 1/2 inch gray PVC type pipe about 2" long, both ends with male threads. I put on some Teflon tape and screwed it into the water heater. Now I use a female PVC threaded cap on the end of the pipe. When I wish to drain and clean and flush the heater I just unscrew the cap.
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07-14-2015, 01:28 PM
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#15
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,403
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vich
Seems that all the Teflon tape that I used over the years has become one with the water heater. I could not get a plastic plug to start
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When I open the plug annually, i pull any residual tape off the threads in the heater. If you do this it pretty well eliminates the build up and it comes off pretty easily. If you let it build over time, I can understand that it can get a little nasty to deal with. I like to start with clean threads on both the plug and the tank.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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07-14-2015, 02:30 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 20
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Kooskia
, Idaho
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 4,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vich
I too have had this wonderful experience.
What I did was to use a sprinkler system riser removal tool to get the old plug out. That was however just the beginning. Seems that all the Teflon tape that I used over the years has become one with the water heater. I could not get a plastic plug to start SOooo I used a brass plug that I cut several slots across the treads to in affect make a tap. After several times of starting the plug into the heater enough Teflon was removed that I could get my new plastic (nylon) plug to start. I did use a dental pick to remove most of the remaining Teflon tape. I then found a 1/2 inch gray PVC type pipe about 2" long, both ends with male threads. I put on some Teflon tape and screwed it into the water heater. Now I use a female PVC threaded cap on the end of the pipe. When I wish to drain and clean and flush the heater I just unscrew the cap.
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The tool is the same one I was referring to. Your further ideas of the cut brass plug as a tap and plastic extension plus cap are excellent ones.
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07-14-2015, 03:23 PM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
2014 27' FB International
Clearwater
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 109
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The mpt/fpt threads are under compression. Use a hacksaw blade to carefully cut the remaining ring into segments. Cut slowly to not damage the aluminum tank threads. With luck segmenting will release the tension allowing you to rotate out the plug ring. If not use a screwdriver to knock out a segment, use needle nose pliers to pull out the remaining segments. Replace with a brass plug or valve. I have used this process to remove mpt plugs and PVC fitting for years. Not pretty but it works.
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07-14-2015, 03:32 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mission
, Texas
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 836
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Echoing ChuckFeldt's removal technique as well as replace the plug with a (brass) valve ...
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07-14-2015, 04:04 PM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
2007 27' Classic FB
Tupper Lake
, New York
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 27
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What about using a vacuum cleaner?
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07-14-2015, 04:24 PM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1974 31' Sovereign
1979 23' Safari
Wayland
, New York
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,632
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Stick with a plastic plug to prevent corrosion. Hadn't thought of this earlier but it's making me think of my trip to tractor supply earlier. They make plugs that have a threaded port/hole in the middle that you can thread another smaller plug into. Not sure of plug size on the water heater, an inch or so. You could use a 1" plug with an internal 1/2" plug. May reduce chance of breaking smaller plug in the future.
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