16 replies to this topic

[Magna-Flash]

Ordered one of these for my Mini ( standard 1000, manual gearbox):


However - I can´t get it to fit!!! It will not get in - feels like there´s not enough space for it inside the sump....
Any suggestions?

[Guess-Works.com]

It's the oil strainer which is in the way....

[Magna-Flash]

It's the oil strainer which is in the way....

So there´s no way fitting it without opening gearbox and modify?
Why do minispares sell it "for all manual gearbox minis"....

[03jkirk]

the longer magnetic catch was designed for the central oil pick up because the magnetic tip needs to be near the end of the pick up pipe to prevent metal fragments from being sucked up and into the oil pupe so unless u change to one of these it would be best jus to stick with a standard length one and mini spares sell this as a none-standard part so will fit any mini aslong as it has a central oil pick up or a modified strainer

[62S]

_{Or pull the spring off and stick on your existing sump plug}

[dklawson]

Are you sure that it is "too long" or is it that the threads will not start/engage? When I bought a long drain plug I couldn't get it to thread into my car's sump.

As a test, take the spring and magnet off so you only have the plug with the long rod on it. Since the plug will now be significantly shorter, you can determine if it is a length or thread problem.

[stevede]

Tried to fit one of these to Carboy001's mini on Saturday.

Not sure if it was up against something but the thread felt really tight, as if it had been damaged, (which it hadn't)

Didn't want to risk damaging the thread on the gearbox so put the std one back in.

[dklawson]

Not sure if it was up against something but the thread felt really tight, as if it had been damaged, (which it hadn't)

That was my experience also. I ended up chasing the threads on the new plug using a thread file until the plug finally fit the sump. If I had a 5/8 UNC die I would have used it instead... but that is just a bit larger than I have at home.

[dklawson]

It was up against something, the oil strainer...........

Perhaps. I agree, with the standard oil pickup there is interference with the long drain plug. However, neither the OP (Magna-Flash) nor Steved (whom you quoted) have replied whether their gearboxes have the standard or center oil pickup.

[Magna-Flash]

It was up against something, the oil strainer...........

Perhaps. I agree, with the standard oil pickup there is interference with the long drain plug. However, neither the OP (Magna-Flash) nor Steved (whom you quoted) have replied whether their gearboxes have the standard or center oil pickup.

In my case it doesn´t even come in to the threads - so I suppose it´s the standard oil pickup...
Will keep the long plug in a drawer for future use...
Thanks for your help!

/Magnus

Edited by Magna-Flash, 13 March 2012 - 06:53 AM.

[liirge]

I've had the thread problem with the long sump plug in my last 'box build.

I was lucky enough to use a little force and sump threads have held (Not advisable), now it will undo and do up easily enough.

[dklawson]

In my case, my car does have the center pickup and the extended drain plug did not fit the sump. The symptoms I observed were similar to those of liirge and Steved. There was no pushing, no moving of gauze filter balls, just incorrectly sized threads. The symptoms were quite different from the magnet being too long as described by Magna-Flash and Dilligaf.

In short... there are two reasons an extended drain plug may not fit.

[Nu2mini]

Don't know if this is related, but I seem to remember a recent thread where all our engineers were discussing the different standards (UNC, UNF etc) and associated thread types used on the mini. (Can't find the link to it now), but I think there was a lot of discussion about the sump plug thread. Does this ring a bell with anyone, and has anyone checked if the long sump plug thread is correct ??

[liirge]

To clarify, my 'box had a centre oil pick up fitted.

I have to Agree with DKLawson and SteveD, there is definitely a thread issue with these longer sump plugs. I wonder if minispares or the like are aware of this thread issue.

[dklawson]

That was my thread (pun intended) about the sump tap and drain plug..

The original thread started way back around 2009 and re-surfaced for some reason. There was conflicting information concerning the tap in the sump (early drawings said or implied one thread type, later drawings said something else).

EDIT: For those wanting to see that old thread, it can be found (all 4 pages) in the link below.
http://www.theminifo...t-standardform/

Edited by dklawson, 13 March 2012 - 05:09 PM.