Water Heater drain plug head broke off..Remove Advice

[Sabluka]

Atwood 6-gal drain plug head broke off. Orig that came with the MW presume. 2000 yr RV.

Tryin to out how to get the threaded portion out. No water in the RV till I do.

How about putting a drill bit that is just a little larger in it, tap in a little and turn it counter clockwise.

Only other way I see is buy a large size easy-out and use that.

Any other ideas oh great sages?

rick

[Sabluka]

Bght straight fluted extractor as Ace. Was too small. Went up to hilt end and just rotated.

Returned that and got large easy out and it worked. Close tho. Took the threaded portion out and installed new plug. Prob solved.

Thanks for all the help.

Rick

[gat75]

jwmII wrote:

ralphnjoann wrote:
I'm not sure if a drill bit will work since the bit has to rotate clockwise to bite into the material but the plug has to come out counter-clockwise. I used a hacksaw blade to carefully cut through it, front to back, in a couple of places then used needle nosed pliers to pull out the pieces. Another way would be to use this, which can be found at Ace, Home Depot, etc.

Left hand drill bits are available and just for info left hand thread taps are available as well.

You are on the right track suggesting using a LH drill, however, you cannot use a left hand tap to clean out right-handed threads.

I once seen a rookie wannabe Machinist cussing all the china made taps, while the whole time he was trying to start a LH tap into hole with RH threads.
I pointed out that it had LH etched on his tap, he shore got red-faced & gave us all something to rib him with.

[fla-gypsy]

If it's plastic (nylon) just shove a heavy bladed knife in and turn it out. If metal an EZ out may be required.

[mbopp]

I make it a practice to use a 6-point socket on my Atwood plug.

When removing broken bolts / studs, sometimes they'll spin right out just using a left-hand drill bit.

[jwmII]

ralphnjoann wrote:
I'm not sure if a drill bit will work since the bit has to rotate clockwise to bite into the material but the plug has to come out counter-clockwise. I used a hacksaw blade to carefully cut through it, front to back, in a couple of places then used needle nosed pliers to pull out the pieces. Another way would be to use this, which can be found at Ace, Home Depot, etc.

Left hand drill bits are available and just for info left hand thread taps are available as well.

[wrgrs50s]

The easiest way I found was to use a soldering iron and melt a groove through the plastic in the top and the bottom of the threads, then take a pick and pick out the 2 sides.

It took me about 5 minutes and wont damage your threads in the tank.

I tried an ease out and several other methods to no avail.

[ksg5000]

When I had same issue the various extractors didn't work for me .. I ended up using a small torch which melted the plastic plug allowing me to use a tiny pic to remove the residual off the threads ... most seem to get the plug out with extractors.

[Sabluka]

pulsar wrote:
I carry a large straight-flute screw extractor, purchased at Sears. I've only used it twice, once on my rig and once to help a fellow camper.



it worked fast and easy.

A sprinkler nipple extractor (Lowes or Home Depot) works the same wan and just as easy. Neither damages the threads.

Tom

Thanks Tom I'm a callin' Ace Hardware next.

You guys are great for us new RVers.

rick

[FlatBroke]

When you get it out replace it with one made of nylon

[beemerphile1]

popeyemth wrote:
Flat head screwdriver driven in and turned with vice grip pliers
If no center hole heat the head of screwdriver with a propane torch

This or a sprinkler head extractor available at your hardware store.

[popeyemth]

Flat head screwdriver driven in and turned with vice grip pliers
If no center hole heat the head of screwdriver with a propane torch

[ralphnjoann]

I'm not sure if a drill bit will work since the bit has to rotate clockwise to bite into the material but the plug has to come out counter-clockwise. I used a hacksaw blade to carefully cut through it, front to back, in a couple of places then used needle nosed pliers to pull out the pieces. Another way would be to use this, which can be found at Ace, Home Depot, etc.

[dougrainer]

pulsar wrote:
I carry a large straight-flute screw extractor, purchased at Sears. I've only used it twice, once on my rig and once to help a fellow camper.



Tom

You can you his type or go to Lowes or Home Depot and go to the lawn irrigation aisle and they sell a "T" HANDLE plug extraction tool. Works great. Click this link. Doug

http://www.smarthome.com/orbit-irrigation-26076-3-piece-nipple-extractor-combo-kit.html?src=Froogle&...

[pulsar]

I carry a large straight-flute screw extractor, purchased at Sears. I've only used it twice, once on my rig and once to help a fellow camper.



it worked fast and easy.

A sprinkler nipple extractor (Lowes or Home Depot) works the same wan and just as easy. Neither damages the threads.

Tom