Tranny dipstick failure!

JamesT

JamesT

Active Member
Oct 7, 2013
250
Somers Point, NJ
Boat Info
2011 470 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins 480s w/ Zeus PODs
This is what I get for always checking my fluids! Any ideas how to unscrew the dipstick without the handle?

upload_2021-4-11_15-56-51.jpeg
 
Can you just tap it with a punch and hammer out toward the edge to unscrew it or put a groove in it to use a screw driver.... maybe heat up a screw driver
 
Last edited:
Blueone said:
Can you just tap it with a punch and hammer out toward the edge to unscrew it or put a groove in it to use a screw driver.... maybe heat up a screw driver
Click to expand...
I like the heat up a screwdriver idea! I was going to drill some holes in it to get a screwdriver into it.

I found the part number but all the online sites say it has to be shipped from a secondary warehouse or “ships in 3-5 days from order.” Why can’t I just get it shipped tomorrow to be delivered Tuesday, ya know? SMH.
 
Out some penetrating oil around the edges of the threads to help loosen it. Krill would be my go-to if you have some.

My initial though was to drill a hole and use a large diameter e-z out. But I think I like the idea of making a slot in the bottom part and using a very wide blade screw driver better. Either cut a slot with a dremel or multi-tool, or heat the screwdriver enough the melt the plastic.

Once out I wonder if you could get a small flat piece of metal and insert it in to the slot you cut, and mate it into a matching slot in the top part. Then glue together with some jb weld. The metal would reinforce the halves.
 
I was thinking a dremel tool to cut a slot into the top, and use a screwdriver and a mallet to rotate to remove
 
Chris-380 said:
I was thinking a dremel tool to cut a slot into the top, and use a screwdriver and a mallet to rotate to remove
Click to expand...
Heat from dremel spin may end up melting the plastic and get too goopy. I will first test the hot screwdriver on the head, I could probably drill two holes a centimeter apart and stick tips of needle nose pliers and unscrew.
 
JamesT said:
Heat from dremel spin may end up melting the plastic and get too goopy. I will first test the hot screwdriver on the head, I could probably drill two holes a centimeter apart and stick tips of needle nose pliers and unscrew.
Click to expand...
Not a bad plan. Kind of like a spanner wrench.

If you use low speed on the dremel bit it should be OK. Depends on the plastic. There are a lot of types of dremel bit - flat cut off disks, carbide bits, diamond bits. All depends on what you have in your toolbox.

I would be very cautious about using a mallet at first. You really don't want to break anything else. I would reiterate to try to get some penetrating oil on the threads.
 
b_arrington said:
Not a bad plan. Kind of like a spanner wrench.

If you use low speed on the dremel bit it should be OK. Depends on the plastic. There are a lot of types of dremel bit - flat cut off disks, carbide bits, diamond bits. All depends on what you have in your toolbox.

I would be very cautious about using a mallet at first. You really don't want to break anything else. I would reiterate to try to get some penetrating oil on the threads.
Click to expand...
I checked the oil 10 seconds before the cap ripped off and I always drag the wet stick on the side on the way out so I’m sure the threads are lubed already. So disgusted that this happened at the end of an otherwise great weekend. Better than a mechanical failure of course, but seriously...WTF??!!
 
b_arrington said:
Not a bad plan. Kind of like a spanner wrench.

If you use low speed on the dremel bit it should be OK. Depends on the plastic. There are a lot of types of dremel bit - flat cut off disks, carbide bits, diamond bits. All depends on what you have in your toolbox.

I would be very cautious about using a mallet at first. You really don't want to break anything else. I would reiterate to try to get some penetrating oil on the threads.
Click to expand...
 
Yep no mallets or hammers. One wrong move on the housing and it’s a $10,000 mistake.
 
JamesT said:
Yep no mallets or hammers. One wrong move on the housing and it’s a $10,000 mistake.
Click to expand...
I guess I should of said tap it with a mallet, common sense.... but I will say it now. Tap it with a rubber mallet....
 
I said use a hammer and a punch... I would have pounded it into next week :)...damn cap.
You can tap stuff with out destroying anything
 
Not knowing how much 'meat' you have to work with I'd be cautious of drilling through...plastic pieces falling into the trans or maybe even the stick itself. I'd try punch and hammer first. Then the slot for screwdriver, the bigger the screwdriver the better.
 
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