Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm fairly new here myself. I have a mechanical motorcycle question for you. I own a 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic 1500 (carbed) with 6,000 miles (approx 10,000 kilometers). I purchased the bike this past December, and only started riding it a few weeks ago (yah Spring finally arrived here)
Anyway, the fellow who owned it before me always had the oil changed at the dealer where he purchased the bike originally. I put about 500 miles on the bike this spring and decided it was time to do an oil change. I heated the engine to give me a thinner viscosity and then proceeded to remove the drain plug from the oil pan. I knew something was wrong the minute I started unscrewing the bolt, cause it would get hard to turn then easy then hard again... yup, the oil pan thread is stripped. Once all the oil was dumped, I put the drain bolt back in, and it wouldn't tighten the way it should and it then the oil started to drop (slowly but continuously).
The oil pan is made of aluminum, and the bolt of steel. I have to get this fixed and I'm hoping I don't have to purchase a new oil pan for the engine. I've read that I could have a timesert or helicoil done to the pan's oil drain thread. Is this my only alternative ? Or could I just add a larger and longer drain bolt.
I have to tell you that there is another oil drain bolt which is on the side and lower, which actually is better to use in my opinion for draining the oil. There is a small screen in there to prevent fragments from getting into the oil pump. I plan on using the side bolt from now on to change the oil, so the other one could be welded shut as far as I'm concerned.
What would you suggest is the best way to remedy this situation ? I'm leaving for Laconia NH in exactly 4 weeks on bike, and I don't want to have to worry about oil leaking at all.
Sorry for the long post, :o but I just wanted to paint you the clearest picture possible.
Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions you may have.
Regards,
Ray :)

Hello, Raymonator!

I just moved your question from Introductions to a more appropriate topic area so that it will get the most exposure to those best able to answer it. I wish that we had a section for motorcycles! Your question will get noticed more if it isn't in the Introductions section, because that topic area is only for people to introduce themselves and not for asking questions. Yours was posted on an old introduction that happened quite some time before I started to be one of people moderating that area. The person who originally posted the introduction hasn't returned to this site in about a year, and is subsequently, not likely to see your question.

Putting a separate answer/response on someone else's question doesn't work the best here because this place doesn't work the same way that a chat room does. If questions are not a part of an answer to what is originally posted on a thread, then it's best to start a new thread with the new question.

Thanks!

Consider removing the oil pan and installing a B&M Drain Plug ($10). This plug requires a 1/2" pan hole. Install nylon washer on plug, insert into hole, and torque nut to 20 lb.-ft.

Raymonator

On behalf of Vulcan Riders I would invite you to join other Vulcan riders.

Kawasaki Vulcan Forum | Home

Click on Forum after you are in the website... All Vulcan Riders... they can answer all your questions on the Beautiful Vulcan Motorcyle.

Owner of 800... drifter... more leather on this thing than a cow!

Shirley

Actually the helicoil suggestion is a good one, I have used them in the past with great success. If you have a tap and die you could always redrill and retap the hole and then install a larger diameter drain plug or if you are going to pull pan then you can find a nut that fits the current drain plug and put a nylon/rubber washer on one side and then one on the other followed by a nut. You know not to use that plug as a drain plug so all you are doing is effectively plugging it off.