Author Topic: Crankcase ball valve  (Read 473 times)

Online Nourish

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 249
  • Karma: 1
Crankcase ball valve
« on: 09.06. 2026 17:03 »
I'm making a right mess trying to get the steel plug out of the crankcase next to the main bearing bush. Why I ever try to use easy out taps I don't know - I ought to throw the bloody things away! But yes I snapped one off in the crankcase. I've managed to get it out but there's still some of the plug in there. Would anyone know the part number for this plug, Spring and ball? - I can't find it in the parts list and what is the thread? Cheers
Long stroke A7

Online muskrat

  • Global Moderator
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • **
  • Join Date: Jul 2009
  • Posts: 11456
  • Karma: 137
  • Lithgow NSW Oz
    • Shoalhaven Classic Motorcycle Club Inc
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #1 on: 10.06. 2026 02:36 »
G'day Nourish.
I don't know much about LS's. A picture would help.
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR,  '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7

Online Beeza

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Oct 2014
  • Posts: 219
  • Karma: 4
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #2 on: 10.06. 2026 06:35 »
Same deal as the pre unit Musky, same oil pump, ball and spring and retaining grub screw at the back.
I have also created a mess with one of those on an a10, I did manage to save it by carefully cleaning the thread out and making a slightly longer grub screw and making a recess in it for the spring, pretty tedious job and I wish I hadn’t rooted it to begin with.
Should be 5/16 Whitworth.
Thomas
62 A10 BVSR, 62 A10 RGS, 53 SFS, 57 G/Flash-black one

Online berger

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2017
  • Posts: 3752
  • Karma: 24
  • 5oo cafe , berger build norbsa ,
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #3 on: 10.06. 2026 10:19 »
beeza same here mate , if i ever have to get another out and it won't play the case will go to man with amazing skills .who i know will get it out and only damage or possibly kill off the plug then make a new one from a bolt .

Offline RDfella

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2017
  • Posts: 2300
  • Karma: 15
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #4 on: 10.06. 2026 10:51 »
"Why I ever try to use easy out taps I don't know - I ought to throw the bloody things away! "

Couldn't agree more. Totally useless. Much better ones around now - a sort of tapered allen key that doesn't expand the item as much as those threaded things. If stuck, drive in a Torx bit of appropriate size.
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Online Rex

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Apr 2017
  • Posts: 2051
  • Karma: 10
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #5 on: 10.06. 2026 12:25 »
It's always said that Eazi-Outs were invented by spark eroding businesses and only to be sold to desperate  DiYers..

Offline RichardL

  • Outside Chicago, IL
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 6543
  • Karma: 55
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #6 on: 10.06. 2026 14:08 »
Let the record show that the video referenced in this 13-year-old post  says “amateur mechanic” right at the top (along with a typo in the title). Best described as “stumble and fumble with ultimate success.”

https://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?topic=1158.msg55317#msg55317

Richard L.

Online Nourish

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 249
  • Karma: 1
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #7 on: 10.06. 2026 22:28 »
Sorted - Thank you all for your help. I'm glad I took it out there was a lot of shit in there. The crank is all standard size but the big ends are scored. I took out the crank plug and found a lot of crap in there. I've never seen such a dirty engine!
Long stroke A7

Offline orabanda

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 1232
  • Karma: 26
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #8 on: 11.06. 2026 01:56 »
What was inside the crankshaft sludge trap?

Online Nourish

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 249
  • Karma: 1
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #9 on: 11.06. 2026 10:04 »
"What was inside the crankshaft sludge trap?" - That's what is pictured.
Long stroke A7

Offline RichardL

  • Outside Chicago, IL
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 6543
  • Karma: 55
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #10 on: 11.06. 2026 13:53 »
What was inside the crankshaft sludge trap?

A family of drop bears.

Online Swarfcut

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Oct 2018
  • Posts: 2708
  • Karma: 58
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #11 on: 11.06. 2026 18:03 »
RD suggested a TORX bit and these are more successful than the tapered extractors that in effect expand the offending thread against the housing. I would add that heat with these aluminium castings is another trick to break the bond of alloy and steel, along with any other sealer... Shellac from way back or Loctite from not so long ago.
  The plug is part of the anti wet sump valve and a "Do Not Disturb" warning meant it was not to be messed with by your average Joe, so it is not listed in my parts books at first glance. Spring and ball are available, search by description. Plug can be made from a slug of BSW threaded bar, or a cut down BSW bolt as suggested by bergs.

 Clearing that crank oilway is the single most important aspect of rebuilding that engine...... methinks.

 If you go for a modern oil, a filter in the oil return line is essential to remove particulates before they go back into the feed side and once more settle out in the crank.

 Swarfy.


Online Nourish

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Aug 2013
  • Posts: 249
  • Karma: 1
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #12 on: 14.06. 2026 12:51 »
The original main bearing bush is still in tolerance so I'm not taking it out - Any tips on how to clean out it's oil ways?
Long stroke A7

Offline RichardL

  • Outside Chicago, IL
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 6543
  • Karma: 55
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #13 on: 14.06. 2026 16:16 »
… these are more successful than the tapered extractors that in effect expand the offending thread against the housing.”

I agree this is true in a lot of cases, but the screw accessing the oil retaining ball is so short and small diameter that it doesn’t have enough surface area to create the friction or “stuckitude” to resist or break an extractor of the right diameter. In my case, it was just luck that I chose a drill diameter that didn’t destroy the spring.

Richard L.

Offline RichardL

  • Outside Chicago, IL
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 6543
  • Karma: 55
Re: Crankcase ball valve
« Reply #14 on: 14.06. 2026 16:37 »
Would anyone know the part number for this plug, Spring and ball? - I can't find it in the parts list and what is the thread? Cheers

Not sure if this was already answered. Check Draganfly for 67-1401 (the screw) and 67-1400 (the spring), as I believe they are in stock. The ball is generic.

Richard L.

Edited the part numbers.