NV5600: How do you remove the fill plug?

[klenger]

I'm getting ready to do the 15K fluid changes on my truck, and crawled under it tonight to make sure I could remove the fill plugs before I dumped the fluids. Story is, it takes a 17mm wrench to remove the NV5600 fill plug. I figure, "no problem, I have one of those". When I look at the plug, I find out that I need a 17mm allen wrench, not a socket. WTF, over.



What do you use, and where can I get one? Can I get a two bolts with 17mm heads and somehow hook them together so that I can use a socket? BTW, I can't weld either.



Also, what is the torque spec on the <u>engine oil</u> drain plug?



Tanks

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Most auto parts stores have them - they fit on a standard 3/8 inch ratchet drive usually...



Just snug up the drain - no need for excessive torque...

 

[GNoel]

I can't help on the torque spec, but the 17 mm hex key is readily avalible at sears. The part number is 946666 and I think it was $10.



Gary

 

[drewRoberts]

The German Torque standard 'goodntite' works good :-laf

 

[Jengle]

I went to my local Kubota tractor supply place and they had a bolt sitting around with a 17mm head. I got two nuts for it, one to turn the bolt with, the other to use as a jam nut to keep the one you put the wrench on from turning. They didn't charge me for anything, since they were parts taken off a tractor, sitting in the nuts and bolts bin. This specialty tool now resides in my toolbox.

 

[rbattelle]

Klenger, the "official" torque spec for the engine oil plug is 37 ft. lb. from the service manual page 9-341. Sounds like way too much torque to me... I agree with the "goodnsnug" idea.



-Ryan

 

[tgbol]

Klenger

The 17 mm is also the standard on VW and Porsche gearboxes. Most parts house that care import parts have 17mm hex sockets. I have a Snap-On, it is very short fo getting into tight places. I used a bolt and two nuts for many years. After I jammed the nuts on the bolt I brazed them together.

 

[EEdmondson]

I got a 17mm allen wrench from my local auto parts store for about $6. It's labeled as a VW transmission drain plug wrench. All the sockets I found were pricey.

 

[RTuvell]

The 17mm hex is equivalent to the head of a 10mm bolt. I simply attached a couple nuts tightly to a 10mm bolt and it works like a charm. I had the nuts and bolt on hand so the total cost was zero and it saved me a run to Sears. This was not my original idea, I read about it in a post on this forum.

 

[klenger]

I went to Ace Hardware and got a 10 mm bolt and 2 nuts. Worked great. I can even use it with my torque wrench. I'll see if I can get someone to weld the nuts on. Even with the nuts not welded, it worked OK. to remove the plug, I just put a 17mm open end wrench on the inner nut, which jammed itself against the outer nut. When I put the plug back on, I used a 17mm socket on the torque wrench. Going in, the outer nut jams itself against the inner nut.



I was only able to get about 4 qts of fluid in the NV5600. My understanding is that the spec is for 4. 75 qts. I suppose there could have been some left in, but I doubt there was 3/4 of a qt.



I had to remove the right front fender to get the oil filter off. It's one of the old filters w/o the notches for an end-cap wrench. The one I put back on was the same type. Last one of those that I have. All the rest will be the new style. I guess I need to find a good cap wrench to remove them. There was a member that was making them. Any idea who and if he's still making them?



Thanks for the help. Now I have to find someone who will take 4 gallons of drain oil.

 

[RTuvell]

I was only able to get about 4 qts of fluid in the NV5600. My understanding is that the spec is for 4. 75 qts. I suppose there could have been some left in, but I doubt there was 3/4 of a qt.

Exact same thing happened to me. I assume that you only removed the "drain bolt" in the PTO cover and not the entire cover. I read that spec was 4 1/2 qts. As long as you filled up the transmission until some oil drained from the filler hole then you're okay!

 

[rbattelle]

I had to remove the right front fender to get the oil filter off.

Did you happen to snap a pic with the fender off? I'll be taking mine off for a project in the future and I'm wondering how much body structure is behind the fender...



-Ryan

 

[klenger]

No body structure behid the wheel well cover at all. The frame covers some stuff, but good access. It's alse easier to get the the exhaust brake with it off. Wasn't too bad of a job to remove it and put it back on.

 

[nickleinonen]

i just took a 10mm bolt and 10mm nut and welded them together making my key for the transmission... standard 10mm nuts/bolts have a 17mm head... a 11/16" allen key might work too if worn out a bit [11/16" is 0. 018" larger than and 17mm]

 

[RankRam]

Hey Ken I was wondering how you like the shifting of NV5600 after changing to the Pennzoil. Any difference from the factory stuff?



By the way I want to thank you for your website, lots of good info there.

 

[klenger]

I think the shifting may be a bit smoother, but I never had any problems with the factory fluid (as long as I remembered to put the clutch all the way in).



All the fluid changes went OK, but I still need to grease the front end. I'd like to get a small 3oz grease gun, but I need to see if I can find the correct grease in the 3 oz tubes. Any suggestions?

 

[pmcnulla]

It Does Work

After reading this thread, I decided it was time to change my transmission fluid. Went and got the bolt and two nuts and they worked like a charm taking the fill plug out. I went to a specialty shop and snowed them when I told them I didn't care about length or the spacing of the threads.



Thanks again for having so much valuable info on the site.