Lateral thinking to remove tristar water tank drain cap?

Technical questions and answers about the Mazda Bongo

Moderators: Doone, westonwarrior

Post Reply
User avatar
BongoBongo123
Supreme Being
Posts: 1671
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:14 pm

Lateral thinking to remove tristar water tank drain cap?

Post by BongoBongo123 » Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:03 am

I have this and it won't budge ! Got me rubber gloves on and it is really stuck and also
very awkward which is why I cannot get much leverage on it. It faces the ground at the bottom of the water tank. I have a tap problem...it is spinning/dripping and I need to gain access to the rear of the tap to tighten it up.

Image

The only possible thing I can think of is my dad has an oil filter removal tool which you attach to a socket wrench. It has 3 grippers and they swing in to meet the sides and grip the oil filter. I wonder if those 3 gripper might lock up onto the 3 fins on this tank drain plug. It is a long shot at best.

Anyone got any ideas on how to approach it ? Thanks.
User avatar
Northern Bongolow
Supreme Being
Posts: 7713
Joined: Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:33 pm
Location: AKA Vanessa

Re: Lateral thinking to remove tristar water tank drain cap?

Post by Northern Bongolow » Mon Jul 04, 2016 10:48 am

i would warm it gently using a plastic picnic cup held to the side of the van with a hole in the side so you can top up with hot water, then let it cool a little then get some small jaw stilsons then with a firm gentle movement, bobs yer uncle.

or when it breaks theres this.

http://www.jacksonscamping.com/water-ta ... tings/c972
User avatar
g8dhe
Supreme Being
Posts: 10226
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2008 10:06 pm
Location: Worthing, West Sussex.
Contact:

Re: Lateral thinking to remove tristar water tank drain cap?

Post by g8dhe » Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:43 am

You usually have to push INWARDS before turning these locking caps, its to prevent vibration from undoing them.
Geoff
2001 Aero V6, AFT, full side conversion.
Image Spherical Visions
User avatar
BongoBongo123
Supreme Being
Posts: 1671
Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2014 10:14 pm

Re: Lateral thinking to remove tristar water tank drain cap?

Post by BongoBongo123 » Mon Jul 04, 2016 12:40 pm

Thanks for suggestions so far. I think it looks like the lip of the cap sits on the edge of its hole. It does not look like it will go in to my eye, could be wrong. I don't know what stiltsons are, durrr ! I could not visualize the method northern.

I guess I could poor fairly hot water n that would warm it all up.
francophile1947
Supreme Being
Posts: 11354
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:15 pm
Location: Norwich

Re: Lateral thinking to remove tristar water tank drain cap?

Post by francophile1947 » Mon Jul 04, 2016 5:34 pm

BongoBongo123 wrote: I don't know what stiltsons are, durrr !
Ain't Google wonderful http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/stilson-wrench :lol:
John
(Evidence that intelligent life exists in the universe, is that it hasn't tried to contact us)
Post Reply

Return to “Techie Stuff”