Alternate Bolster Drain Plug

[staninlowerAL]

Maybe this will help someone who is having trouble sealing the bolster drain plug. It took a bit of searching to find something close to the 3/8 pipe threads. Cheers.

[TallCoolOne58]

I very recently drained, flushed and refilled my cooling system, along with new hoses, clamps and inlet and outlet elbow gaskets. Although I was able to remove and reinstall the bolster radiator drain pipe without difficulty (the cap was frozen on, I did use thread sealant to reinstall, and no leaks), it still haunts me that I didn't chase the threads with a pipe thread tap, and go buy a new pipe nipple, and whatever else I needed to attach a brass drain petcock. Sigh. Oh well, next time.

[Scrivet]

........ it still haunts me that I didn't chase the threads with a pipe thread tap, and go buy a new pipe nipple, and whatever else I needed to attach a brass drain petcock. Sigh. Oh well, next time.

I personally don't think the convenience of having a petcock outweighs the danger of having a piece of brass protruding out from under the front of a Cub in such an exposed location. I refer you to the many bent tie rods seen on Cubs and they are a lot stronger than brass. Also, you can still make it "home" with a bent tie rod.

[TallCoolOne58]

........ it still haunts me that I didn't chase the threads with a pipe thread tap, and go buy a new pipe nipple, and whatever else I needed to attach a brass drain petcock. Sigh. Oh well, next time.

I personally don't think the convenience of having a petcock outweighs the danger of having a piece of brass protruding out from under the front of a Cub in such an exposed location. I refer you to the many bent tie rods seen on Cubs and they are a lot stronger than brass. Also, you can still make it "home" with a bent tie rod.

Well, that is food for thought, but with a little time and effort a person could probably come up with something that was the same length, or less than what IH installed, and that's not what i'd call ideal either. Nothing's going to be accident proof.

[Slim140]

........ it still haunts me that I didn't chase the threads with a pipe thread tap, and go buy a new pipe nipple, and whatever else I needed to attach a brass drain petcock. Sigh. Oh well, next time.

I personally don't think the convenience of having a petcock outweighs the danger of having a piece of brass protruding out from under the front of a Cub in such an exposed location. I refer you to the many bent tie rods seen on Cubs and they are a lot stronger than brass. Also, you can still make it "home" with a bent tie rod.

Well, that is food for thought, but with a little time and effort a person could probably come up with something that was the same length, or less than what IH installed, and that's not what i'd call ideal either. Nothing's going to be accident proof.

IH used a pipe plug, it didn't have a nipple with a cap.

[TallCoolOne58]

I personally don't think the convenience of having a petcock outweighs the danger of having a piece of brass protruding out from under the front of a Cub in such an exposed location. I refer you to the many bent tie rods seen on Cubs and they are a lot stronger than brass. Also, you can still make it "home" with a bent tie rod.

Well, that is food for thought, but with a little time and effort a person could probably come up with something that was the same length, or less than what IH installed, and that's not what i'd call ideal either. Nothing's going to be accident proof.

IH used a pipe plug, it didn't have a nipple with a cap.

I see. After my post, thought about that, that a pipe plug was about the only way to not have anything protrude below the bolster. Did not realize the short pipe nipple and cap was something cobbed on by a PO.

Maybe I'll just go back to a plug, next time. It was a little messy though, when I removed the pipe nipple and drained it into the pail. Some initial splatter. Just wanted to add some ease to maintenance.