Any 1/2" Left Hand Thread Plugs in UK?

[Joncpi]

Have you tried townandcountrypumpsandpipes.com.au? Or some local boat chandlers?
Alternatively you could buy a 1/2" BSP lefthand thread die or dienut (you dont need to buy a wrench if using a dienut, you can use a spanner, but it doesn't adjust so cutting a good thread on steel can be a bit difficult sometimes) and some brass (as it easier to cut a thread on brass than stainless steel)
The brass needs to be 20mm diameter, cut a piece off about 50mm long maybe and then cut a square shape on one end say 20mm deep. Then you can clamp this in a vice, and cut the thread on the other end. Not sure but you may even be able to get a lefthand tapered thread die. Otherwise, if you can only get a parallel thread die, just use PTFE tape or Loctite 55, if you have that down under, to seal it. If you want to be really clever you could drill a small hole through the square end and thread a cable or string through it so it's not lost if you have to take it out.

 

[Joncpi]

Hi, another thought occurred to me just as I finished writing. Is it possible that the thread in this drain hole is not 1/2" BSP LH but in fact 7/8ths 14UNF lefthand? Outside diameter of 1/2"BSP is 0.825" and pitch is 0.0714" and 7/8 14UNF is O.D 0.8752 and pitch 0.07143" In which case you should simply be able to buy a 7/8ths UNF lefthand thread bolt to solve your problem.

 

[abrogard]

It could well be. I'll try to get one on Monday. I was hoping those pictures of the fitting I put up on post #9 would help with identification - thinking that big six sided nut would help somehow. But it doesn't seem to have rung a bell with anyone.

And failing the 7/8th UNF I'll go the dienut and see how that works. Thanks very much for your help, it is spot on.

🙂

 

[Ged Simpson]

Why not find a bolt that will just fit through the hole with an oversize steel and rubber washer to seal from the inside of the boat and tighten with a washer and nut on the outside. Seems to me a cheap and simple fix.

 

[Dannypipe]

I used this type, on mine....could only find on U.S ebayView attachment 4807

I have a set of these, I bought them from a small independant merchants a few years ago and have been on the lookout for another set ever since. Very handy.

If anyone has a link, please put it up!!

 

[abrogard]

I like that, Ged. I well might try it. The cheapest, simplest fix is actually a rubber bung, which is what I've got in now.

Plastic actually, sold for the job, no guidance on sizes, the one I've put in goes right into the hole, nothing sticking out.

I'm just nervous about their ability to keep the water out and keep themselves in.

But I don't think anyone who actually takes to the water regularly in dinghies and such worries about it at all. I rather think rubber bungs or even a cloth wrapped stick bashed in are pretty common. I'm just a worry wart.

AND: I like to track things down. Seems to me this would have been a very, very common piece of gear this bloke used for a bung when he built the boat, back then, when, maybe 20 years ago?

So your idea suits me. I get to keep this fitting so's I can keep 'tracking it down' and yet I get something as secure as a nut and bolt to keep the water out. Good one. 🙂

But I'm hoping this 7/8th UNF will fix it. Isn't that amazing - 7/8th being the same as 1/2? 3/8th taken up! We'll see.

 

[markfxy]

they use left hand threads in France you could try on an expat forum see if anyones got one

 

[Joncpi]

But I'm hoping this 7/8th UNF will fix it. Isn't that amazing - 7/8th being the same as 1/2? 3/8th taken up! We'll see.

I will now probably bore you to death, but that because British Standard Pipe (BSP) thread is measured by the internal diameter of the pipe. Whereas bolt threads such as British Standard Whitworth (BSW); British Standard Fine (BSF); Metric Coarse (MM) to name a few, are measured on the outside diameter.
The other thing I would suggest, but you have probably already thought of this, and if you can find it, is that you buy either a brass UNF bolt or a stainless one. A steel bolt will obviously rust very quickly in salt water.

 

[abrogard]

No, you don't bore me, far, far from it. You got me reading more, such as: Unified Thread Standard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia - which got me even more interested/confused/headachey. It's all fascinating. Too late for me now but I wish I'd been trained as an engineer or somesuch.

Let's see what happens Monday. 🙂

p.s. Nope, I wouldn't have thought of the brass or stainless.... I have to do everything wrong the first time.

 

[abrogard]

And here we are on Monday.... with nothing but failure.

Left Hand Threaded bolts are totally unavailable in Australia it seems.

In these days of computers you don't have to look around much - find one major supplier on the web, contact them, they speak for the stock on hand at all of their stores throughout the country...

Do that a few times, follow every lead they give you... pretty soon you can be sure you've got it covered...

That's what I did and the answer is - 'No'. Can't be done. Can't be got.

Not even the die nut.

Going to have to take it out and put in something new.

Thanks for all the attempts at help.

🙂

 

[Phil]

Are you sure its a left hand thread? Not just because you guys are upside down?

:ciappa:

Sorry bad joke!

Right I'm of to work to earn tax money for the government to spend on housing imigrants.

 

[abrogard]

Yes, I'm sure, Phil - I stood on my head when I looked at it to correct for the difference in hemispheres...

🙂

 

[REDSAW]

if it were my boat and i wanted to keep it as it was built and money an issue, then i would make one with a lead rod heated up and screwed in. as there is no stress then the lead will do made to immitate a bolt.

otherwise, then if it were the 'real thing' you were after, then i would order one from here.....
i think its a national pattent thread (npt) 1/2''

if you require, then i can pick it up for you and pop over to fit it at travel cost, if you like.lol.

Garboard Drain Plug Only 520041-1 - SeaDog Line Drain Plugs and Tubes @ MarineEngine.com

 

[tamz]

That must be the one Red. The op has been getting Garboard and gas board mixed up :lol:

 

[abrogard]

Hey, I wonder if that is it? Shame they won't send me one but apparently they don't ship international orders for parts, only manuals, else I'd buy one to try it. National Pipe Thread. Could come in a left hand version, too, though the garboard drain plug they're selling there makes no mention of being left hand.

Would that hot lead rod thing work or would it just plug the thing permanently?

 

[REDSAW]

Hey, I wonder if that is it? Shame they won't send me one but apparently they don't ship international orders for parts, only manuals, else I'd buy one to try it. National Pipe Thread. Could come in a left hand version, too, though the garboard drain plug they're selling there makes no mention of being left hand.

Would that hot lead rod thing work or would it just plug the thing permanently?

study the picture closely, it is a left hand thread.!. apparently to stop it working loose. if you do some reading on the other plugs etc.
the lead 'billet' will work if you get it shaved down to the right diameter then heat it as you screw it in. there is no tensile properties needed in the application so lead is fine and once inserted will unscrew with ease.

like i said, pay my fair and i will pick one up for you.!.

optionally, try emailing one of these to check. looks the same stock to me?.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/dsc/i.html?_n...=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313&LH_TitleDesc=1

 

[abrogard]

You're an excellent researcher and observer, aren't you? On looking again, especially at that bottom item, with the cross piece, it is left hand threaded okay, I agree.

And that's a great swag of things you've found on eBay. I've emailed one of the vendors asking if his plug is left hand thread, because close inspection of those pics doesn't seem to show left hand thread to me.

I think you might have cracked the case, eh? Good for you.

If this doesn't work out I'll replace it with whatever. Someone somewhere objected to my using epoxy but reading threads associated with that garboard plug thing I see other people have used it alright.

I note those garboard things seem to be set up for screwing (countersunk heads) to timber. I wonder if there's stuff somewhere made for fastening to the thin sheet aluminium of a tinny? You'd think so.

And what metals would it be okay to use on the dinghy? Anything at all?

Anyone care to pronounce on the 'rubber bung' thing? Is a rubber bung in the drain hole of a dinghy quite good enough?

 

[tamz]

The rubber bung wouldn't trouble me There is very little pressure on it so it is very unlikely ever to "pop" out. Even if it did just stick it back in again. If it worries you take a life vest and watch a couple of Johnny Weissmuller films.

 

[REDSAW]

if you look back on the site they do a leaver bung to size that fits bait-wells.

 

[abrogard]

Alright guys - here's the red-faced confession - I DIDN'T CHECK PROPERLY.

And here's the result of checking properly - IT IS NOT LEFT HAND

And here's the result of trying again, carefully - THE HALF INCH PLUG FITS

And here's the result of persevering a little more - A FINE UNF (?) DOES THE JOB.

Sorry. Apologies. And many thanks for all who tried to help me. I learned a lot about bolts and sizes and about boats - that stuff about garboard plugs is a little beauty. I'm happy about it all. But I was wrong. Careless, hurried, slapdash, wrong.

I started this thing months ago. Have a box of bolts of different sizes I got when dashing around town here bugging everyone asking for bolts that might fit.

Here's what happened today:

After talking to a really great guy at E.J.Milde here in Adelaide where they seem to be the definitive boat fixings people, I learned there's no chance of it being a left hand garboard drain. They don't stock 'em. There's none.

So went to the boat with a candle and stuck it in the hole to try get a thread impression to settle that question.

To my surprise the only way I could screw it in and out was clockwise, right hand thread. Trying the other way just stripped wax off the candle...

And to my surprise the candle sticking out of the hole was angled way over to the right.

Made me think maybe I'd been bashing away at starting a bolt in the thread without lining it up properly - expecting it to be at right angles to the transom.

So I got WD40 and I got a sharp scriber point and I scraped the thread and lubricated it and tried the 1/2" plug again.

It went in About a turn and a half.

I messed with it and lubricated and tried a bit of force and I got it to 2 full turns. Then 2.5.

I looked in the box of bolts and I found the fine thread bolt and I tried it. It went 3 full turns easily and seemed to fill the thread to the end - the thread starts on the inside of the boat and only goes halfway through the tube.

So that seems to be it.

The problem never existed. The problem is me. As usual.

I hope I haven't caused anyone any trouble, burning midnight oil trying to help, or even just wasting thinking time...

Thanks again. Sorry.

Don't know what else to say....

Where's one of those funny emoticons

😳