Drain plug broke off in air compessor.

[michmetalman]

So I was draing my ai compressor and the drain plug bolt snapped in half. Needless to say I cant dain it now...lol
Any suggestions?

[little blue choo]

Never seen a drain plug snap into on a compressor. Is it a cast, or steel plug?

Rick

[michmetalman]

Looks like steel

[Dana gear]

Is this a drain petcock or an actual steel pipe plug?

[Paint Chip]

I would think you could drain the air out of the tank with a blow off gun or other air attachment and then drill a hole in the plug deep enough to get an easy out in it. If its really stuck you might have to apply heat to the plug to get it to break loose; sometimes quenching it with water after heating helps. I'd do this sparingly though. And use liquid wrench. I replaced my plugs with 1/4 piping and a ball valve so I can drain it without tools.

[michmetalman]

Is this a drain petcock or an actual steel pipe plug?

Looks like a bolt with a hollow center.

[acourtjester]

You may need to use what is called "easy out" you can get them at hardware or auto parts stores. The have reverse twist so you stick them in the part and turn with a wrench to remove. If you have to heat the plug use candle wax when it hot and it works better then liquid wrench.

easy.jpg

[weld it]

If you can get to it easy. Weld a nut on plug.Let it cool down a bit then gently try to rock it back and forth. When it starts to move spray some P B blaster on area and go back and forth should come out fairly easy
Don

[little blue choo]

Ok michmetalman the reason I ask if it was steel or cast was to determine the easiest way to remove. I do this on a regular basis in my auto shop. If it's steel I would take a nut with the inside hole the same size or a size smaller and place it over the broken plug, hold it in place and mig weld the broken plug to the nut through the center of the nut. Let it cool for a minute and then turn it out. The heat from the welding process usually causes the bolt or plug in your case to release and come out easily. Let me know if this works. I do it several times a month.

Rick