2004 Air 226 - De-winterizing - port manifold drain plug

[mikeki]

Well the saga continues de-winterizing my boat after a maintenance guy botched it.

It turns it he lost one of the manifold drain plugs, so I've gone out and found a replacement (I can't find the original in my bilge, so it must be in the lake...). However, I can't really get it to start threading. I did purchase the replacement at autoparts store, but it looks identical to the plug on the other side, which looks just like:
http://www.nautiqueparts.com/maifold...-newstyle.aspx

Plug I purchased picture:


However, after removing the starboard side plug again, the threads on it are almost non-existent. Either I cross threaded it screwing it in, or it's literally the wrong threading. Are these the correct plugs for this engine or should they be something courser like:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Blue-Water-D...49e452&vxp=mtr

I only bring up because I'm not sure what was in the starboard side was even right.

Assuming I have the right part, is there a trick to getting it started? It currently starts to thread in, but then goes a little sideways and pops out. Granted I'm in an extremely awkward position to even get to it, but I've tried it several times.

Thanks in advance,
Mike

[DanielC]

It is a tapered pipe thread. Over the winter, the threads in the manifold build up rust, and that makes the threads hard to find. You can retap the threads with a pipe tap, of the correct size.

Be careful, it is really easy to start the tap cross threaded, and then it will make threads in the wrong place. If i remember 226 boats, you pretty much have to stand on your head to get into the engine compartment, and work on it.

[mikeki]

Thanks. I think I need a professional, because the last thing I want to do is screw up the threads.

Working on the 226 is interesting. If I want to see where the port side drain plug screws in, my feet are on the starboard fuel tank, my chest is on the spark arrester (with padding), and my head is close to the port fuel tank (picture me laying over the engine...). I really need to get someone to take a picture.

Thanks again.

[Neverenough]

I had the same problem this year. I sprayed the manifold with wd40 and scrapped the threads out with a little pick. Had to do it a few times to get it cleaned good to thread. Brings to mind a winterizing idea. Grease the hole!