Velvet dip stick

Go to your local hardware store and get an expanding plug for a couple bucks, then keep your dipstick for when you need to check the level.

phatsat67 wrote: Could also probably just swap the rubber from the new expandable plug onto the existing dipstick. The title of this thread sounds very inappropriate.

I was thinking similar, went straight to the gutter

phatsat67 wrote: Could also probably just swap the rubber from the new expandable plug onto the existing dipstick.

This tells me that Zach has never tried to get the rubber off his dipstick and put a new one on. Sounds kinda kinky

On a B/W like Jterr's picture you'll be cutting it apart and having to make new pieces.

Wasn’t velvet dipstick Quinners college nickname ?

One on eBay right now 36.50 + 2.00 shipping

jterr's post reminded me that I had a dipstick that looked just like his that I'd been meaning to fix so that turned into a small project yesterday.

I used stuff that was in the garage, but if I went to the store, it might add up to 5 dollars or so.

I had to cut the shaft on the old one, then tossed everything but the cover that the shaft ran through.

I used a 5/16-18 stainless bolt 6 inches long and cut the head off and extended the threads so the threaded area was 1 5/8 inches. Then after a little guesswork and measuring I cut the shaft to 5 1/4 inches in length.

Also had a stainless wing nut and a stainless t nut that i had to grind down a little to be about the same OD as the hunk of rubber hose that would be the "new" seal.

Speaking of the new seal, it was a piece of 1/2 inch oil cooler hose with an OD of about 3/4 of an inch. I cut it about 7/8 inch long.

A nut and a couple of washers pretty much rounded out the parts used.

Slapped it all together and it works as good as an original B/W dipstick.

The wing nut and the hex nut are just double nutted and provided for a little adjustment of how much you have to turn the wing nut to get a tight seal.

I do have to go to the hardware store and get a stainless nut though 'cause the regular steel one under the wingnut will just drive me crazy if I don't replace it.

Then I'll either tack weld the wing nut to the shaft or use some red loctite to keep it from coming apart accidentally.

No fancy tools needed, the 5/16-18 die being the fanciest. Otherwise something to cut the bolt and trim the T nut.

I used my favorite "precision machining tool.".........a 4 1/2 inch angle grinder   

I'm sure there are variations on how this could be done but this worked for me.

If somebody else is thinking of doing this, measure yours first in case you have a different length dipstick and adjust your dimensions as necessary.

The pictures will give an idea how it all went together and a comparison to an original dipstick.

Nice. Any way you could have kept the old handle so that it looked the same from the outside?

The original style handle looks like a stamped piece that is welded to the end of the threaded rod for the stick.

Even a round T would look pretty good tack welded to the rod end. Or drill a hole/thread and counter sink a retainer screw to hold it to the rod.

Below is what the new style looks like.

Thevelvetdipstick.com

Nice work Ken. Great on the engineering skills.

KENO wrote: If I can find the right size freeze, core,casting, expansion plug (or something along those lines) then the whole thing could be built without needing any parts from an old one. I'll have to do some measuring in the morning

Ken,
I think Brian's idea (in his post above and I quoted) of starting with on off the shelf expansion plug could be used. McMaster lists T handled plugs in 1/2" all the way to 4". The center "draw" bolt could be changed out like you did with the one you built.

...Alll over a dip stick.

And to make Timmy happy:

Ken, If I were jterr I would have made you an offer by now!

I probably got a spare one. lol