has anybody ever had a stripped gearbox drain plug on a 08 96ci softail ?

 you can tap it out with a NPT thread & use a proper allen head pressure plug tapered , no worries  have to use plenty of grease  a little bit @ a time

thanks

Mate I have a bagger not a Softail,  But this may help with your decision.

Stripped my engine and trans drain plug holes  twice.   First time i treaded larger hole and put in plugs screws to suite.  Engine hole was a prick , as not much room .

Anyway had enough , so I removed the pan, (had to remove rear wheel).  Took the pan to a mates workshop and he installed Solid Helicoil inserts, (not the springing ones).

In my opinion , the only way to go.   Just make sure you give the pan a good clean out before re install.    No more, oh I hope I dont strip the threads bullshit .

Cheers

Ozymax,

I may have misled when I said Solid Helicoil inserts.   What my mate put in were  Solid Insets.  They must have been the Time Sert type. Just to give everyone the right info if there ever in this situation.     If Harley would install these or similar as standard it would be a big plus .    Cheers

+1 for Timesert. I bought a kit and did my cam cover bolts...man it's a real good fix.

All good info here . On a Softy as you know it's up between the shockies and a complete cNut to get at !

Also a good reminder to well clean your drain plugs , a new O ring and torque them to the LOWEST HD reccomended setting

14 to 21 Ft/Lbs OR 19 to 28.5 Nm. I ALWAYS go the lowest and use some soft thread seal as well . Hylomar Blue in my case

That varies from model to model and between model years so be CAREFUL is the motto

I learned not to strip threads on my Z 900 Jappers many moons ago the HARD WAY ! Camshaft cap bolts were an arse of a thing !!