just got a 2001! drain plug help

hey guys, i have been reading this website a ton and it inspired to buy a 2001 and restore it. i have been wroking diligently and it's been prety fun but tonight disaster struck with the plugs for winterizing my boat. Specifically, the one above the starter motor at the base of the engine. I think the original owner tried to fix it poorly because it was sticking out. i pushed it with my finger tonight to see what deal was and to my chagrin the plug went into the engine. it must have just barely held long enough for me not to notice until now. there was very little resistance, it jsut plopped right in.   

so i am stuck, what do i do now??

it's right above the starter motor and unless i am mistaken (it's a new boat to me) you use it to drain the water out when you winterize. Also, water came out when the makeshift plug fell in the motor.

Sticking out, then you pushed it in sounds a lot like a popped freeze plug, not a drainage plug. Whats the approximate diameter of this here plug?

what was there seemed between 1/4" and 3/8", but it was the wrong size (hence the reason it slid right in when i touched it!).

if it's a freeze plug, what's the next step?

I will take some pictures tonight.

Also, thanks for all the quick help, this site is really great!

https://download.yousendit.com/ECB8951263B0DD3F

there's a link to download a bunch of pics of the engine. There is one in particular, file name IMG_1553, that shows the hole where i pushed the plug in. The pic is upside down (i am not a photographer haha). It's directly above the starter motor and brass in color. There's water dripping out of it as we speak.    

8122pbrainard wrote: sn, You're correct about your photographic skills!! Just kidding but the picture is really hard to see what's going on. It almost looks like the PO drilled a freeze plug for a extra rear drain on the starboard side. Chris, Joe, can you see it better? sn, See if you can get a closer picture. BTW, there is a thread on posting pictures.

That's what it looks like to me Pete. What does he do about the plug now that it's been pushed in? It will be a restriction but can it just stay in the water jacket? I think that's the first time we've seen that one.

whew great news! Here are some more detailed pics.

http://download.yousendit.com/97DCAAAD679906E8
Here's the photo bucket try:

sn, Here's a nice instructional with pictures.

changing freeze plugs

With the exception of the hex, it looks like a FTG by FPT copper sweat bush. I did a on line search and couldn't find anything. I also called my friend Chuck who is works for a mechanical contractor as a pipe fitter. He's also been around refrigeration all his life. He saw the picture this morning and he said it does look "vaguely familiar" and will be taking another look at it. Very interesting - I'm just curious as to what it is that the PO used to retrofit/backyard mechanic the "drain".

sn, Here's my thoughts on what should be done. Whatever the copper fitting is that a PO put in needs to come out. Even if you were more confident with your mechanical skill and could re-tap (or get someone else) the small hole for a new pipe plug, I'm not recommending it. I don't feel the wall thickness of the mystery fitting is thick enough for a reliable pipe thread plus it being copper, it's relatively soft. I think you could handle changing it out to one of the rubber replacement freeze plugs. Go through the link I gave you on changing freeze plugs again and if you still don't feel you could handle it, get some help. Don't forget that CCfan is always here to help too.

I'll hear from my fried probably in the morning but I'm 100% sure he'll confirm my thoughts.

ok so here's an update.

the plug that is in there is a commonly available freeze plug, minus a nut that screws onto a bolt that was once there.

The concept is similair to the rubber plug in that as you tighten the nut, the plug expands with the exception that it is made of copper. I found a replacement copper plug that's the exact same style at checker auto, however, i opted for a rubber 1. I installed it no problem tonight. The bolt i pushed in originally was right there and i took it out.

What's more, i finished all my other maintenance (new impeller, new fuel filter, new plugs, new hoses-all per threads on CCfan.com) and ran it ont he lake tonight!   It started right away, so satisfying. Temp stayed good, pressure stayed good for the most part it was a pretty big victory! I opened it up, this boat hauls butt for sure.

I only had one issue-i think my exhaust manifold might be leaking a tiny bit. a samll amoutn white smoke was coming out one side near the valve cover/exhaust manifold when the rpms were above say 2500 and i was goosing the throttle. It seemed to resolve itself, but i had to head in because it got dark and it was hard to pay attention with all the excitement of having my new boat on the lake for the first time. i will research the forums a bit and post a new topic if i get stuck.

I was just changing the riser gaskets on my teams safety boat on Friday when I noticed the same type of freeze plug. It was even in the same position, above the starter. I believe they were designed for automotive applications where it can be very difficult or even impossible to replace a freeze plug without pulling the engine(no room to swing a hammer).

SN2001fan wrote: and i believe them haha. Is there anything special i should do if it has been run in sea water??

If it ever did see salt wter, it's all flushed out by now!

Have you given any thought to replacing any of the other plugs?