This is a somewhat humbling post

I think I may have over torqued my drain and/or fill plugs on the transfer case. There is a small amount of fluid seeping from one of them (not sure which yet).

I thought of buying new plugs, but I would think that the threads in the case would strip first.

I did not replace the copper washers, so i am going to start there. The next thing i might try is a bit of teflon tape around the top few threads.

Anyone have some ideas/thoughts?

thanks

 

Did you inspect the drain plug yet? I would replace the washer and when you do make sure you look to see if you pull and threads out when taking the plug out. Its probably just the washer.

How hard did you TQ it down?

 

Your washer is probably the culprit. Both plugs should only be torqued to 23 FT-LBS. Hopefully its your fill plug so you dont have to replace the T-Case fluid again just because you have to change the washer.

 

I would guess that i torqued it to about 40-50ish lb/ft. Its hard to guess because the angle is so awkward.

I cleaned off the fluid and i am going to check after work, that should tell me which one is leaking. I suppose i should re- torque them to 23, even though I don't have new washers yet.

 

I would wait till you get a new washer.. I wouldn't really mess with it till then..

 

Were you not using a tq wrench? I would highly recommend you do if for nothing else so that you can feel 23 ft-lbs, which is not much tq at all. Even 40-50 probably isn't enough to strip anything, so hopefully you are correct on that guess and it is nothing more than the washer.

I would be careful on the teflon tape as that obviously wouldn't stick to the magnet; you wouldn't want any potential loose ends working their way into the fluid. Good luck!

 

I was not using a torque wrench. Silly because I had it just a few feet away.

 

Well I guarantee you that I've torqued down the drain plug more than 50lb-ft before, and didn't strip anything. Of course, that doesn't mean you didn't. Hopefully it is just the washer.

 

lol @ using a torque wrench on drain and fill plugs. Common sense is all that's needed.

 

While I mostly agree, context goes a long way. A lot of people don't know what 23 ft-lbs feels like.

 

+1

 

Update:

Don't think that I stripped anything. Replaced the washers and it seems to be fine. The drain washer was the wrong size and the fill gasket looked worn.

Used a torque wrench this time, 23 isnt a whole lot.

 

^no 23ft-lbs isn't much at all. Good to know it was the likely the washers. How'd the wrong size get on there?

 

You have to remember that 23 ft/lb and 40-50 are multiplicative since the threads and contacting surfaces are covered in oil.... that is a highly underrated torque figure for what it will be when that dries up!