Oil gallery plug - sealant?

My 100T developed a leak last year that I did not find the source of until over the winter. What I thought was a leaking neutral switch turned out to be a leaking main oil gallery plug, which also explained my fairly high rate of oil "consumption". The oil only leaked when the engine was running. Kind of like a standard Triumph anti-corrosion system . . .

Any suggestions on how to seal that plug? Torque figures? Clymer manual just identifies the part in the exploded diagram, but there is nothing specific about tightening, thread sealant, etc. It was not "loose" but came out fairly easily with a 1/4" drive ratchet with a flat screw bit on an extension.

Thanks for any suggestions.

I use Loctite 272 on these plugs. The trick is getting the threads in the case clean enough for Loctite to work. I would pull the oil filter (and the oil pump if it makes any sense) and blast brake cleaner through until oil no longer appears. Then coat the threads with Loctite, thread the plug in and heat it with a heat gun to set the Loctite.

Thanks 'wrench. I figured I would have to clean the internal threads somehow. Was hoping that just tightening it a bit more would help. Maybe with a thin coat of peanut butter . . .

The warranty manager at Butler & Smith told me that the oil gallery between pump and filter could see 400 PSI cold. You'll need extra-strength peanut butter.

I'll go to the store and get some "extra crunchy".

What is interesting is that doesn't appear to be any residual sealant on the plug threads at all. I guess the factory did not use any?

When one of mine started weeping, I just gave it an eighth of a turn tighter and all was good. No goop necessary, just seated firmly.

I have fixed them leaking doing that too.

Just like final drive threaded rings, I have had real good luck sealing those plugs with liquid plumber's tape.

If you are cleaning those threads, be sure and re-prime the oil pump before you start the engine! There is going to be a lot of air in the system.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to make sure the base of the plug is clean and smooth, and then re-torque it. Don't want to clean the gallery out just for this if I don't have to.

I reinstalled and torqued the plug as much as I dare, and it still weeps.

Sounds like it needs sealant. I would use Red Locktight. Clean the threads with a carb cleaner and after sealant is cured you can prime the oil pump by taking out plugs, make sure plug wires are grounded.

做任何未来的主人一个忙(可能我自己太f you're as forgetful as I am) and put of dab of red paint on the outside of it so they don't cause themselves a bunch of heartache and misery trying to remove it without heat.

Red loctite where it isn't really needed is some stripped threads waiting to happen for the next person however it is that doesn't know OR remember that it's there.

Do not use thread locker as a thread sealant for those plugs. Simply not necessary and the future problems it can cause can be terrible. I would use Aviation Permatex as a thread sealant. It is non hardening, easy to clean, impervious to hot oil and if that doesn't stop the leak, you have a very unusual issue.

If you decide to remove the plug, take great care that whatever sealant you use, you do not push a berm of goo into the oil passage.

Read: apply it to the plug, not the hole.

OK, I change my mind. Doctor T's solution is better. Although I'm not familiar with something called Aviation Permatex, that sounds more generic rather than a specific product, I would look for this.

I have used liquid plumber's tape with great results. Same story on the FD threaded ring threads. It's often the threads leaking and not the seal!

If by liquid plumber's tape you mean something like Loctite Pipe Sealant, then I'd agree. That's what I use too.

Thanks gents. I have used the aviation "form-a-gasket" for years on gas pipe threads that are usually still wet with oil from the threader, so that is a great suggestion. I was contemplating plumber tape and/or "blue blocker", too (both are oil resistant). No matter what I use, great care will be taken to avoid introducing flotsam into the gallery. That is why I tried just re-torque-ing first.

I'll post up the results.

Results, as promised. A dab of Permatex aviation gasket sealant on the threads did the trick. No more oil leak. Now I just need to de-grease the back half of the bike.

Wow - can't believe it's been over 9 years since this thread passed into oblivion.