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Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 4:28 pm
by Haf-e
I some how misplaced my drain and fill plugs for the portal boxes on my haflinger. I know they are m16 and m8 but I can't find the thread pitch.

I ordered a set from a great online supplier of metric hardware (belmetric.com) and got m16x1.5 and m8x1.0 but they don't seem to fit thread-wise.

Anyone know what they are? I tried a m8x1.25 bolt in the drain and it felt closer but still not right.

Thanks,

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 4:51 pm
by heinkeljb
I'll look when I get home

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 5:39 pm
by Haf-e
Thanks - I found some that should work - they are "Flange Bolts" without serrations below the head.

The drain plug is M8x1.25 with a length of about 12 mm working well.

The fill plug is M16x2.0 with a length of about 15 mm being ideal. I was only able to find a 35mm length so I will need to cut it down.

Here are where I ordered them from:

www. boltdepot.com

Item #17500 - M8x1.25 12mm length - $0.26 each

Item #17533 - M16x2.0 35mm length - $2.38 each

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 1:49 am
by Haf-e
Well - the 8mm bolts worked well for the drain plugs - but the 16mm bolts are not "fully threaded" even though they say they are - there is about 2 mm at the head which is not and that makes it not suitable for use with the copper crush rings.

I ended up ordering a set of the original plugs from Europe as I needed a few other small items and they had a good price on the other items. They didn't stock the 8mm plugs BTW - they said they are available from any hardware store... yah right!

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 7:32 am
by heinkeljb
What a swizz! Is there any way you could get the thread cut right to the top or at least to with in a mm so a copper washer could work? Maybe you could put another thicker steel washer on first and then a copper washer?

I realise you have now bought the correct items, but just for others who might end up needing a quick replacement.

John

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2017 4:35 pm
by Haf-e
There are a couple of options I thought of -

1. put the bolts into a drill press / lathe and "cut" the non-threaded part back to below the depth of the thread - this would allow them to thread all the way in.

2. put a stack of copper washers on so that the non-threaded section doesn't interfere. The washers would need to be wide type - so a ID of 16mm but a OD of 22 or so in order to have enough sealing area to work. Using a steel washer with the copper probably would work unless to put a copper washer on each side to ensure that the oil doesn't seep back. Of course - this is not a pressurised application and the oil level is generally below the fill plug - so perhaps this is not that big of an issue.

Bottom line is the correct plugs will look better than something cobbled together. Just wish I could find the originals in my shop!

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 1:24 am
by AustHaflinger
A specialist bolt supplier should have been able to supply suitable bolts - alternatively an auto supply company should have aftermarket sump plugs that would have fitted.

I do not use crush washers - after each use they require replacement and I have found flat copper washers, aluminium washers or fibre washers are better - glad you have got it all sorted.

Garry

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 1:32 am
by Haf-e
Well - I am in the USA so its a bit harder to find good metric hardware selections. Even on line, there does not seem to be any vehicles which use a M16x2.0 and a M8x1.25 drain plug - I looked and looked - mostly out of curiosity / astonishment! I would think that perhaps Puch scooters and motorcycles would use these sizes but that wasn't easy to check on here in the USA either since they haven't been sold here since the mid 1980's. M16x1.5 and M8x1.0 are easy to find but don't work of course.

Yes - I agree that "crush" type (tubular) washers are overkill on this application since there isn't any pressure involved and the temperatures are low. I don't like the idea of having a stack of washers on there to make it work - seems like it might loosen easier perhaps.

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 7:53 am
by AustHaflinger
Haf-e wrote:Well - I am in the USA so its a bit harder to find good metric hardware selections.
You try living here in Canberra Aust - the motoring backwater of the world :o

I know what it is like to try and find hard to get bits - very frustrating.

I agree that finding a M16 2.0 plug is hard - for future reference these guys might help but I dont like their pricing.

http://www.nexusparts.com/m16x2-0-femco ... drain-plug

https://www.femcodrainplug.com/index.html

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2017 9:37 pm
by Haf-e
Yes I saw it listed on the Femco website but the M16 is a fill plug and so the easy to drain valve feature doesn't help at all. They are also pricy - I think $25 each?

Thanks for the info though... if only I could figure out what vehicle they make these for then that would be helpful in finding another OEM application of the plug to get them from.

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 6:41 pm
by wojo12
On this subject, what garde oil should go in the portal axle hub?

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:39 pm
by Ole
The manual says straight 90w gear oil. But straight cut spur gears is not picky on oil.

I use 75w90 as it is easier to get a hold of where I live. I imagine it is slightly thinner when cold so I get more of the 27hp to the wheels. But that could be all in my head.

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 8:51 pm
by wojo12
Ole wrote:The manual says straight 90w gear oil. But straight cut spur gears is not picky on oil.

I use 75w90 as it is easier to get a hold of where I live. I imagine it is slightly thinner when cold so I get more of the 27hp to the wheels. But that could be all in my head.
Thanks, Ole

Re: Portal boxes drain and fill threads sizes?

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2018 10:44 pm
by AustHaflinger
As above - the hubs are not picky just change them often as there is not a lot in them - a hypoid oil might last a bit longer buy not crucial.

If you put an EP90 oil in the hubs definitely do not put in the diffs or gearbox as the additives will eat brass/bronze components. With these I try to stay with GL4 oils rather than newer GL5 that can additives in them. Castrol VMX-M is good - I also use in the hubs so I have the same oil all round.

Garry