frozen bronze zinc plug

[atlantic high]

I need a little help getting a frozen bronze plug out of the engine, it holds a zinc. I put WD 40 on it, I tapped it with a hammer, the head was square and its not square any more. The volvo penta has 3, the other two came out, but this third on will not, any ideas, Atlantic High

[AnchorageGuy]

First you will need to square it off if possible. Use a small grinder and grind it down to the next smaller size wrench you have. Be sure it is snug and not loose. Get some PB Blaster and start treating it with that maybe even for a couple of days. A little heat from a small torch might also get it loose.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by Chuck Baier

First you will need to square it off if possible. Use a small grinder and grind it down to the next smaller size wrench you have. Be sure it is snug and not loose. Get some PB Blaster and start treating it with that maybe even for a couple of days. A little heat from a small torch might also get it loose.

Let it cool before trying to loosen it.

[Chief Engineer]

Heat AROUND where the plug goes.....but if you hve buggered up the head enuf....drill it out with succesively larger bits....when you have got most of i drilled out you can carefully chisel the threads out.....

I lover nevr-seize in all its "flavours"

[atlantic high]

I'm using vice grips, a large pair. is this just as good as a large wrench. And how hot should i get it? I should just heat the bronze plug right. thanks for the reply. atlantic high

[Chief Engineer]

NO............you heat the area around the plug..........and it has to be hot hot hot
if you are using a propane torch you probably wont have much luck.

[atlantic high]

Ok, to really get to the back of the engine ( this plug seems to be on the transmission, I think its water cooled), I have to pull out the water heater, now there are two hoses that go from engine to water heater, can I take these hoses off and plug them or should I connect them togeather so this coolent or whatever is running through them can keep recirculating. Also is there a chance that heating up this casing around the bronze plug could damage anything. thanks for the reply, atlantic high

[AnchorageGuy]

Your explanations are a bit confusing. Are the hoses connected to the hot water heater from the engine or the transmission? Never seen them from the transmission. You should have a separate heat exchanger type cooler on your transmission connected by hydraulic hoses. Are you planning to eliminate the hot water heater hoses or just for repair purposes. If just for working on the engine, connect them together until you are finished.

[atlantic high]

I think for now I want to eliminate the water heater, these hoses are exiting the engine.

[AnchorageGuy]

Then just plug them up and keep the fittings you removed since I bet some day you will want to make hot water with the engine. Remove the hose connections on the engine and put appropriate plugs in.

[perchance]

Be mindful when heating cast iron. It has a nasty habit of cracking if you get carried away with the torch.