
VW Transaxle Drain/Fill Plug Tool
a product of Visual
Diagnostics LLC
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If you have ever changed gear oil in a VW water-cooled transaxle, you
have had to deal with that 17mm socketed drain and fill plug. In the
past, people have used a 17mm allen key and also old lug bolts welded
to a steel bar to fashion a removal tool, but those never worked well.
A much better solution was a small adapter that let you use any 17mm
socket or wrench that you already have (hint: 17mm is the size of the
lug bolts on the wheels). The adapter will also work with an
11/16" socket or wrench and will also work with adjustable
wrenches as well as with torque wrenches in case you prefer to torque
your fill/drain pluigs.
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17mm Socket Adapter |
Removing drain plug |
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Deluxe Adapter for deep sockets |
Bolt adjusts for depth of socket |
And here it is. Pictured above-left is the adapter, 17mm hex alloy
steel bar to fit whatever 17mm wrench or socket you have. Pictured
above-right is the adapter fitted to a 3/8" drive ratchet and
socket to remove the drain plug, but if you have a 1/2" drive
socket, the adapter will work fine in that as well. Works equally well
on fill plug, too. Advantages of the adapter is that you can use it
with any 17mm socket, and all the extensions, ratchets, breaker bars,
torque wrenches, air tools, you have. Also, for deep well sockets, such
as shown on the lower row of images, we make a deluze adapter with a
center threaded hole and bolt to allow the depth that the 35mm long
adapter fits into a deep socket.
A couple of handy tips before trying to remove the drain and fill plugs
are listed below:
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First, make sure you can remove the FILL plug before you try to remove
the DRAIN plug. Nothing like the feeling of struggling to get the fill
plug out while the gear oil is draining out the bottom!
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Be sure to clean out the socket in the plug before inserting whatever
removal tool you are planning to use. I like to use a small pick or
screwdriver to get into the bottom corners of the socket and then spray
it out with some solvent or cleaner to ensure the tool can fit fully
into the socket.
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Then tap the tool into the socket of the plug to make sure it is fully
seated. If it doesn't feel like it is in there solid, remove it and
look for anything hanging it up like dirt or a burr, etc.
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Before reinstalling a plug, make sure to clean and inspect the threads.
I like to use a wire brush around the outside to get any grit out of
the threads. Then wipe off the area around the threaded hole and the
internal threads. I find the grit in the threads of the plugs is a
common cause of having them be difficult to remove the next time.
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Screw the plug in by hand and it should turn smoothly. If it feels
gritty or gets tight too fast, pull it out and find out why before
cranking it in farther. This is a slightly tapered hole and the plug
should get gradually tighter as it is screwed in to make a seal. There
are no washers or gaskets or other sealers involved in a leak free
plug.
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If you are interested in this 17mm socket adapter, the cost is US$8.00
and the deluxe adapter is US$12.00 plus shipping. Note, socket/ratchet
pictured below is not included, only the adapter:
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First Class (US-only) shipping:
4-7 days domestic,
US$4.95 postage |
Priority Mail (US)/Airmail (Int'l) Shipping:
2-3 days domestic, 2 weeks international
$7.95 postage |
Expedited shipping
1-2 days domestic, ~6 days international
$34.95 shipping cost |
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First Class (US-only) shipping:
4-7 days domestic,
US$4.95 postage |
Priority Mail (US-only) Shipping:
2-3 days domestic
$7.95 postage |
International shipping
10-15 days international
$14.95 shipping cost |
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Notes:
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Parts are shipped from zip 95051 (CA)
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A tracking number will be provided for the 2 expedited shipping options
above
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Visitor #
22946
since
21.MAR.2002
[Last updated: 02.December.2020]