Andy
Hero member
- Location
- Auckland, roughly
My mate who was an aircraft mechanic for our RNZAF taught me how to lockwire the sump plug several years ago, just after he’d helped me helicoil it… 
Why copper washers
- Thread starter paulincayman
- Start date
CLEMTOG
Hero member
I dont go there with you Nick, I agree that a sump plug wired is not vital, but it costs so little and is so easy why not? as for "you have never etc"
( * see below) the oil that escaped from your breather (stupid place for it and illegal for racing) is about .001% of what will come out if the plug is gone, next time you do an oil change count the time its takes to drop your 3 litres of everprice motorcycle specific oil into the tub, then imagine all of it on your rear tyre.
You wont be able to sleep at night.
Tippie is right, Murphys law!
#is that a drip you can see on 2 of your 5 bikes sump plugs??
I have been using a shotgun since I was 9 but I have never injured myself or any other
I have been using a chain saw since I was 16, same applies
doesnt mean I am not going to take preventive actions before the operation.
I know you wont change, because you havent got a bench vice or drill press and cross vice, never mind lockwire pliers, and if it wasnt for me you wouldnt even have a light over your bench, I do seriously hope that you never have a plug come out which is very likely the outcome.
CLEM
( * see below) the oil that escaped from your breather (stupid place for it and illegal for racing) is about .001% of what will come out if the plug is gone, next time you do an oil change count the time its takes to drop your 3 litres of everprice motorcycle specific oil into the tub, then imagine all of it on your rear tyre.
You wont be able to sleep at night.
Tippie is right, Murphys law!
#is that a drip you can see on 2 of your 5 bikes sump plugs??
I have been using a shotgun since I was 9 but I have never injured myself or any other
I have been using a chain saw since I was 16, same applies
doesnt mean I am not going to take preventive actions before the operation.
I know you wont change, because you havent got a bench vice or drill press and cross vice, never mind lockwire pliers, and if it wasnt for me you wouldnt even have a light over your bench, I do seriously hope that you never have a plug come out which is very likely the outcome.
CLEM
Shit happens, the story went just after they released the modern MV one on a track day lost an oil filter on the main straight. That got my attention. BTW my 3c had a race history, or at least it was used as a pratise bike so I head years later. Found a few drilled bolts on it. Another story I heard had a local Guzzi racer having a rapid tyre deflate on a track day, cause a rubber valve cap. Replaced mine with metal after that.
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Exmoor beast
Hero member
- Location
- Minehead,Somerset, ENGLAND OF COURSE
No manafacturer I can think of lock wires a sump plug or fits metal valve caps, in fact Schrader make plastic ones.
I have only once seen total tyre valve failure and that was on a dyno, the thought was there was insufficient air in rear tyre to overcome the centrifugal forces acting on the valve inner. The only sump plugs that fall out were left lose in the first place - lock wire in racing is as much a visual thing, you don’t need to check it’s tight you can see it won’t undo.
Saying that , I use metal valve caps…
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
It`s that Mr Sod you really want to watch out for ....
...........BTW .... as for drain plugs ..... Is it the case that the regulations for some race series ( maybe the IoM ) say the bottom half of a fairing must be able to contain and hold the engine oil , in the event of a drain plug coming loose , or more likely , an engine blow up ? ....... I`m sure I saw that somewhere .........
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Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
It is here.It`s that Mr Sod you really want to watch out for ....
BTW .... as for drain plugs ..... Is it the case that the regulations for some race series ( maybe the IoM ) say the bottom half of a fairing must be able to contain and hold the engine oil , in the event of a drain plug coming loose , or more likely , an engine blow up ? ....... I`m sure I saw that somewhere .........
rocketonarail
Hero member
- Location
- Gloucestershire,England
So it is ....... Sorry , I missed that ! .....
.......... But I do remember reading about it somewhere else as well ..........
Tree Hugger
Full member
- Location
- Scotland
I recommend lock wiring the exhaust header nuts on a Monty…. pop, bang, wtf
CLEMTOG
Hero member
I routinely do that on TOG as well and use extended closed end brass domed nuts, plenty have lost a nut on a long trip and then broken the flange by tightening the remaining nut, instead of removing the locknut from the non driving side of your rear wheel adjusters and fixing the exhaust flange at the (minor) expense of the rear wheel possibly moving but doubtfull.
CLEM
CLEM
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
Do you lockwire hand tight spin on oil filters too?
Where is the best place to drill a couple of holes in the sheet metal to accommodate the tie wire?
piranha-bro2
Hero member
- Location
- Melbourne
I think CK is being facetious!
Tippie
Hero member
- Location
- Dr?bak, Norway
If you cannot find a hose clamp or two, just hammer a long spike through it that can catch on something to stop it screwing all the way off.Where is the best place to drill a couple of holes in the sheet metal to accommodate the tie wire?
chrisk
Hero member
- Location
- Brisbane, Australia
I was making a joke ….. clearly lost on the translation.
So was I in suggesting lockwiring such a filter...mostly just done up hand tight. No harm in lockwiring your sump plug, though as Clem points out, personally I dont have the skill..looks like an art....but if it were a significant risk, all bikes would come lockwired from the manufacturer. They dont, and it isnt.