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Jacana · 15-11-2018, 11:40

I use a chisel which I ground down to the same width of the slot in the drain plug as you then get a full purchase on the plug .Multigrips can be used on the chisel to unscrew if tight.To help in future when you get the plug out grind the slot to make it a bit wider and deeper with cutting blade on angle grinder.Then grind down the chisel to fit the now wider and deeper slot and it can now be undone and tighten easily.

alansmith · 15-11-2018, 15:49

Two Things:

I just got home from Mexico working on the boat. My oil plug had the same issue. Wouldn't budge. So, I took my largest flat head...put all my weight behind it and used a vice grip on the barrel of the screwdriver. Ba da Bing.

Had another screw on the mast that was the mother of all mothers to break loose. Tried penetrating oil. hammer drill setting....Used my sweetest language on it...nothing worked. Finally I got out my heat gun and blew hot air on it....this is not a flame torch. Just your ordinary heat gun...Five minutes later...screw came out. I was so amazed.

wannacat · 15-11-2018, 16:19

Totally agree with "akprb"! I never use the drain plug. Every 2 years when I haul out, I pop the housing with a 5 gallon pail under it to catch the oil. Then I replace the seals and check the bearings. Easy peasy and you won't have to worry about water entering and contaminating the lower end unit.

lookinggoodrock · 15-11-2018, 19:10

Transmission oil is the best penetrating oil i've ever used. Tap lightly with hammer? to vibrate oil into threads. let sit for a day or two.

jen1722terry · 16-11-2018, 03:23

I echo the advice to purchase/find a screwdriver to exactly fit the drain plug on your saildrive. Big vice-grips on the screwdriver shaft can yield a lot of helpful torque. A flat screw driver bit that can fit an impact drill would also be a good investment. The drill itself can be rented (done this before). Just last year, HD had a sale on the Ryobi hammer drill. Got it for $70, not much more than a rental. Yes, it's low quality, but more than good enough for the rare times I use it.

I had a similar problem with the carburetor drain screw on my 2013 Honda 2.3 4-stroke. The screw, probably cheap metal, rusted and seized in the hole. Unfortunately, the screw head disintegrated when I put a small hex socket on it. The motor had just gone off warranty and Honda would not fix it. It's still there (I just use fuel preservative each winter).

Good luck, and maybe don't beat on the sail drive too much.

Terry

Capt Y Knot · 16-11-2018, 04:00

Try using PB Blaster or Kroil penetrating spray on the plug. Tap the plug lightly, spray again, repeat. Over a couple of days the plug will come loose.

Have a replacement gasket on hand if the plug requires one.

Try and keep the penetrating oil only where you need it, don't spray wildly.