Attempting to get my dad’s 1916 Touring running again for the first time in five years or more to commemorate his memory on Fathers' Day. Unfortunately the oil drain plug was stuck and I stripped it trying to get it off. I can see a thread or two but it just spins either way, can’t get it off can’t tighten it back up. I thought of a couple things to try but figured I better ask real mechanics rather than make it worse if that is possible. Any tips or tricks to get it off?
Thanks!
Stripped Oil Drain Plug
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Sonny1916T
Topic author - Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2025 8:09 am
- First Name: Bruce
- Last Name: Tolson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Touring
- Location: Stuart VA
- Board Member Since: 2000
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speedytinc
- Posts: 4725
- Joined: Fri Feb 12, 2021 12:24 pm
- First Name: john
- Last Name: karvaly
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 14/15 wide track roadster. 23 touring, 27 roadster pickup, 20ish rajo touring
- Location: orange, ca
- Board Member Since: 2020
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
If you have even a small gap, use 2 thin putty knives under the hex flange while turning.
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Jerry VanOoteghem
- Posts: 4082
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 4:06 pm
- First Name: Jerry
- Last Name: Van
- Location: S.E. Michigan
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Try clamping onto it with a vise-grip and pulling downwards as you turn. There is still the slim hope that only the drain plug theads are stripped. The pan threads may yet be salvaged.
Last edited by Jerry VanOoteghem on Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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George House
- Posts: 2814
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:25 pm
- First Name: George
- Last Name: House
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘10 Maxwell AA, ‘11Hupp Model 20, Two 1914 Ford runabouts, 19 centerdoor, 25 C Cab,26 roadster
- Location: Northern Caldwell County TX
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
I hate to recommend vice grips for a Model T task but, when used vertically, adjust for a very tight grip on that shallow hex head. Unscrew while pulling downward.
A Fine is a Tax for Doing Something Wrong….A Tax is a Fine for Doing Something RIGHT 
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Jerry VanOoteghem
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- Last Name: Van
- Location: S.E. Michigan
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
George! What a great idea!George House wrote: ↑Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:56 pmI hate to recommend vice grips for a Model T task but, when used vertically, adjust for a very tight grip on that shallow hex head. Unscrew while pulling downward.
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George House
- Posts: 2814
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 5:25 pm
- First Name: George
- Last Name: House
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: ‘10 Maxwell AA, ‘11Hupp Model 20, Two 1914 Ford runabouts, 19 centerdoor, 25 C Cab,26 roadster
- Location: Northern Caldwell County TX
- MTFCA Life Member: YES
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Gee Jerry…. great minds function simultaneously
A Fine is a Tax for Doing Something Wrong….A Tax is a Fine for Doing Something RIGHT
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Mark Gregush
- Posts: 5370
- Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
- First Name: Mark
- Last Name: Gregush
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
- Location: Portland Or
- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Isn't there a guy in the classifieds that sells replacement drain plugs for just this application?
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! 
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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RajoRacer
- Posts: 5171
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:18 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Tomaso
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1914 Touring, 1919 Centerdoor, 1924 TT C-Cab Express, 1925 Racer
- Location: Longbranch, WA
- Board Member Since: 2001
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Any luck ? Here's a couple repair tools that Stevens Co. put out back in the day - both quite useful !
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NoelChico
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 10:42 pm
- First Name: Noel
- Last Name: Chicoine
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1920 roadster, 1923 Touring, 1926 Coupe
- Location: Pierre, South Dakota
- Board Member Since: 2005
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Yes, there are drain plug kits. I recently purchased 2 of them. But Bruce wants to get this car going for Father's Day. Since you can see a few threads, it's partially out. Try the putty knives or some thin pry bars simultaneously with unscrewing it. Good luck, Bruce
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Sonny1916T
Topic author - Posts: 4
- Joined: Wed May 28, 2025 8:09 am
- First Name: Bruce
- Last Name: Tolson
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 Touring
- Location: Stuart VA
- Board Member Since: 2000
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Thanks for the suggestions, I gave up on the Fathers Day thought as so much else going on. I will look into your ideas and suggestions and follow up when I have a positive result.
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Jerry VanOoteghem
- Posts: 4082
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- Last Name: Van
- Location: S.E. Michigan
Re: Stripped Oil Drain Plug
Good thinking. Personally, being under a deadline causes me to make hasty, regrettable choices.Sonny1916T wrote: ↑Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:52 amThanks for the suggestions, I gave up on the Fathers Day thought as so much else going on. I will look into your ideas and suggestions and follow up when I have a positive result.