Hello:

Replaced the oil in my Ariens snowblower for the season yesterday by
draining it out thru the
drain tube they have on the bottom of the engine. The engine appears to be
an AL block.

Had a devil of a time loosening the plug at the end, and finally ended up
having to remove the complete draintube itself from where it is screwed into
the engine block. Has NPT male threads on both tube ends.

Anyway, might have been a bit too ambitious in tightening it back into the
block.

Head a fairly loud "ping", but it still "seem to" snuggle up tight into the
block, and no evidence of stripped threads.
No discernable oil leakage anywhere.

Probably getting a bit ahead of myself in worrying about this possibility
now, but thought I'd ask:

Think it's likely the male tube going into the block a bit too much (as it
has the tapered NPT thread)
split the Al block at that point ? The noise of the ping I heard makes me
wonder ?

Or, perhaps the noise was a thread skipping, or... ?

Main question: If the block is split there, can it be re-welded ?
Or ?

Thanks, Bob

youll know when engine gets hot if its cracked by oil drip.

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm

Robert11 wrote:

Hello:

Replaced the oil in my Ariens snowblower for the season yesterday by
draining it out thru the
drain tube they have on the bottom of the engine. The engine appears to be
an AL block.

Had a devil of a time loosening the plug at the end, and finally ended up
having to remove the complete draintube itself from where it is screwed into
the engine block. Has NPT male threads on both tube ends.

Anyway, might have been a bit too ambitious in tightening it back into the
block.

Head a fairly loud "ping", but it still "seem to" snuggle up tight into the
block, and no evidence of stripped threads.
No discernable oil leakage anywhere.

Probably getting a bit ahead of myself in worrying about this possibility
now, but thought I'd ask:

Think it's likely the male tube going into the block a bit too much (as it
has the tapered NPT thread)
split the Al block at that point ? The noise of the ping I heard makes me
wonder ?

Or, perhaps the noise was a thread skipping, or... ?

Main question: If the block is split there, can it be re-welded ?

"Re-welded" ? Sounds like this isn't the first time you've busted it
Bob. G

Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.

Robert11 wrote:
Hello:

Replaced the oil in my Ariens snowblower for the season yesterday by
draining it out thru the
drain tube they have on the bottom of the engine. The engine appears to be
an AL block.

Had a devil of a time loosening the plug at the end, and finally ended up
having to remove the complete draintube itself from where it is screwed into
the engine block. Has NPT male threads on both tube ends.

Anyway, might have been a bit too ambitious in tightening it back into the
block.

Head a fairly loud "ping", but it still "seem to" snuggle up tight into the
block, and no evidence of stripped threads.
No discernable oil leakage anywhere.

Probably getting a bit ahead of myself in worrying about this possibility
now, but thought I'd ask:

Think it's likely the male tube going into the block a bit too much (as it
has the tapered NPT thread)
split the Al block at that point ? The noise of the ping I heard makes me
wonder ?

Or, perhaps the noise was a thread skipping, or... ?

Main question: If the block is split there, can it be re-welded ?
Or ?

Thanks, Bob

You know now you should have held the tube tightly with ViseGrips
while you took off the drain cap (or plug). In the event that you have
a mechanical problem or leak, it can be welded. You may have broken
off a reinforcing web in the crankcase which could cause trouble, hard
to say.
A shop with a good TIG welder can deal with cracks that leak. It won't
be cheap as the oil in many castings makes carbon bits that get in way
of running a nice clean bead. The welder has to 'work' the weld,
keeping it molten until the crud floats to the top. Once welded,
retapping your threaded places will keep leaks at bay. Reinstall the
tube with Permatex #3 and it should last quite a while. HTH

Joe