Changing rear axle / hydraulics oil

[Bensdexta]

It's time to change the back axle oil.

First I have to drop the old oil. But the male square drain plug is nicely obstructed by the brake cross-shaft and the drawbar bracket.

I've measured the drain plug and it appears to be a square of side 9/16" (14.25mm) . So I need a square female socket of that size to get it off - which seems to be a hard socket to find

How do you get your plug out - is there a crafty way.....?

TIA

[ericcullen]

I had to empty mine out last week, I just used a normal shifter

[Jerry Coles]

Go down to Halfords and buy a "one size fits all socket". Its the one with a load of needles in the barrel. Worked a treat for all my square plugs!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/36085631 ... 0&ff14=108
Jerry

[Bensdexta]

Go down to Halfords and buy a "one size fits all socket". Its the one with a load of needles in the barrel. Worked a treat for all my square plugs!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/36085631 ... 0&ff14=108
Jerry

Looks crafty indeed!

But is there enough space beside the cross shaft to get it on? I see magic socket is 1"OD so must be tight on space.

Of course I could just drop the cross-shaft ... only two bolts but they've not been off for 50 years...

[Bensdexta]

googled on Jerry's magic socket but it seems quite pricey £20+

So I just loosened the two cross-shaft bolts and hey presto, some oil started to drip out!

So I guess the holes are drilled all the way through the main back end casting.

So I could just drain the oil out through one of these bolt holes?

Anyone else do this...??

[tom lad]

hi ben
I had to lower a home made draw bar bracket to get at the drain bolt , in the nettles b4 I dared move the beast to drop the water out that had separated
I blew a hole thru the channel iron , to access the drain b4 I bolted it back on , I did have to drop the brake cross shaft it was seized up ,but I cant remember if oil came thru the drillings sorry ,
I think my plug is a hex not a square so a socket fits , or maybe I replaced it with a hex for ease next time , I think its the same small plug as a fergie .
it will be a tapered plug wont it , gas pipe ,BSPT ???
tom

[Bensdexta]

... I did have to drop the brake cross shaft it was seized up ,but I cant remember if oil came thru the drillings sorry....

So no prob dropping the cross-shaft, no nut or anything to come loose on the inside of the back end - that would be embarassing.

[tom lad]

the cross shaft for the brakes / hand brake , ? no problems as I recall ,every one of the pins and pivots had seized on mine so had to be heated and freed off indervidualay .

as long as the bolts , set screws , don't snap then should be straight forward , prob worth some copper slip on re assembly? make it easier next time eh

i'll have a look under my s dexta tomorrow if I remember , to refresh .

good luck

[Bensdexta]

the cross shaft for the brakes / hand brake? No problems as I recall, every one of the pins and pivots had seized on mine so had to be heated and freed off indervidualay.
As long as the bolts , set screws , don't snap then should be straight forward , prob worth some copper slip on re assembly? make it easier next time eh
i'll have a look under my s dexta tomorrow if I remember , to refresh .
good luck

OK thanks for info.
Been topping today, so will drop the back end oil after next day's work, and lube the brake cross-shaft whilst I'm at it - no grease nipples on mine.

[NVNL]

Many thanks for the foregoing, this morning I was in the fortunate position of attempting to remove the drain plug from my 1964 this morning lying on cardboard over concrete in full daylight with no rain falling.

Bliss.

I am pleased to report that a 15mm open-ended spanner, encouraged by No. 2 Medium Claw Hammer, unscrewed the plug just so and I even managed not to drop the plug in the drip tray.

Thanks again.