sealing compound for cooling system plugs |
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bk_broiler
Groupie Joined: June-15-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Posted: January-13-2008 at 7:04pm |
Hello again everyone,
Once again, I have a question for all you experienced Cc owners. I have an 81 Ski Nautique. AS a part of winterization, I drained the water from the engine block and from the PCM cooling system (the U at the front of the engine on the PCM 351W). When I tried to re-plug, I couldn't get the last plug to seal well, even with teflon tape. I read the manual today and noticed that it calls for "Sealing compound" when re-plugging these. Does anyone have a recommendation for a particular product to use? Thanks! Brian |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Brian, The teflon tape should have done the job. I'm wondering if you have cross threaded the plug. On tapered pipe threads, you should be able to screw the joint (in your case, a plug) together about 2 to 3 turns by hand before using a wrench. Keep this in mind when you fix your problem. Two things I recommend: Get new pipe plugs (brass) and get a pipe tap so you can "chase" the threads. Don't go too deep with the pipe tap otherwise the plug won't tighten up. Just remember that pipe threads are tapered. With brass plugs and good threads, you really don't need any sealant.
Did you wrap the tape onto the plug in the proper direction? With the plug in your hand and the threaded end facing you, the tape should be wrapped on in a clockwise direction. If done counter clock wise, the tape will unravel and won't go inside the joint where it's needed. Sorry if this sounds pretty basic and something you may already know. |
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bk_broiler
Groupie Joined: June-15-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Hey 8122,
My initial reaction was to do as you instructed. I got a new plug, NPT threaded, and I got a tap as well. I haven't been able to get the tap to work for me, though. It's a bad angle. Once spring comes, I may just take the part off and then "chase" the threads again. Thanks for the help! |
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JUST-IN-TIME
Newbie Joined: June-25-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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do not use Teflon tape, it acts as a lubricate and u could over tighten
get some pipe thread stuff the plumbers use |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Brian, Teflon tape is really great stuff for the basic tapered pipe thread. It does lubricate the pipe threads and over tightening is a issue but I feel only on plastic fittings where the fittings can actually stretch when the taper of the threads is run together too deep. If there was a issue, we would have lots of problems out there considering the millions of feet that has been used. Even the not so handy do it yourselfer's use it every day on pipe without problems. Problems do come up when it is used on joints and threads that it wasn't designed for.
Is the leaker plug in the cast "U" on the circ pump? |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Keep this in mind too! If you do want to use a pipe thread compound, La-co Slic-tite is the best one out there. |
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bk_broiler
Groupie Joined: June-15-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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8122,
Yes, the leak is on the plug in the cast U-joint of the circ pump. Any tips for getting the part off? |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Brian, I think it's just held on with hoses and clamps? Anyone had one off?
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JoeinNY
Grand Poobah Joined: October-19-2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 5698 |
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Thats my experience but of course those hoses can melt on and become one with the cast parts, usually the brute strength twist method will work to free it, if you have to resort to the screwdriver push pry method expect to need to replace the tubing. |
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bk_broiler
Groupie Joined: June-15-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 58 |
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Thanks, Joe!
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79nautique
Grand Poobah Joined: January-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7872 |
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the trick with the screw drive is just to break the seal by running it in a circular fashion parallel to the diameter. They actually make special tool for this purpose.
Teflon tape lubes the threads too much please smoke some different sh*t because that's just a bunch of sh*t. The thread is taper and the plug will not go through unless some jackass retapped the female threads wrong. |
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JUST-IN-TIME
Newbie Joined: June-25-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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then how come the manufactures do not use Teflon tape??
i use pipe thread compound on all PDI's and water readys i do not use Teflon tape, my older retired tech told me this |
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79nautique
Grand Poobah Joined: January-27-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 7872 |
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because they use a pre-applied compound on the threads so they don't have too. Never seen any issue using teflon tape, have seen some dump ass' f**k it up, because they use too much or wrap it in the wrong direction. But then it all goes back to the skill one has. |
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jbear
Grand Poobah Joined: January-21-2005 Location: Lake Wales FL. Status: Offline Points: 8193 |
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Nice to see ya on 79. What you been doing lately? You up north? Working? You gonna try to visit at Reid's on the St. Johns? Are you goin' to the race this year?
If so..you gotta stop and see me and patti. john |
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"Loud pipes save lives"
AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41045 |
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Just, Maybe you didn't completely understand your retired tech. In my previous post I tried to explain the use of Teflon tape on tapered pipe threads. OEM's don't use it because it takes too much time to put on!! Just as Chris has explained, they use pre-applied compounds. What and how much training do you have? Why are you hiding your real name? Yes Chris, you must have been busy lately!! Glad to see you check in with us. |
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JUST-IN-TIME
Newbie Joined: June-25-2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 35 |
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then why not use the liquid stuff??
fuel and teflon or not to be used together, maybe that is why, so guys in the shop do not use it i have went through, yami,honda,mercury, mercruiser,volvo penta, suzi, pcm training |
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Gary S
Grand Poobah Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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Good to see Chris back,I miss his NON PC attitude.
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