what size allen key to open oil drain?

[Michael]

I still don't see how this many people are having difficulty.

Everyone agrees that the OEM drain plug is a little bigger than 10mm, but a 10mm tool is what you always use.

And only a few people ever run into the "Oh crap, my drain plug is so warn that the 10mm hex won't work anymore."

The idea is to prevent that.

So, for us older monster guys, with a warn down, original drain plug that's seen many oil changes, it's a good idea to replace the OEM 10.x mm bolt with something else as a step of preventative maintenance.

[rule62]

How about a threaded tube that goes from the oil drain hole to the oil fill cap hole.  What thread pitch are they.  Maybe a used oil cooler hose from eBay with a different fitting.  Then instead of ever having to drain the oil, it would just be re-filled automatically. 

[Popeye the Sailor]

How about a threaded tube that goes from the oil drain hole to the oil fill cap hole.  What thread pitch are they.  Maybe a used oil cooler hose from eBay with a different fitting.  Then instead of ever having to drain the oil, it would just be re-filled automatically. 

[rule62]

Or maybe a hook-up to your extra nipple, you know... the one that scrapes on the ground.  Perhaps you could route it to the breather valve or the airbox.  Then the used oil could be filtered back through the top of the engine to keep your throttle bodies lubed. 

[Michael]

</threadjack>

So, a few pages back, Dietrich posted about an alternative drain plug.

I'd like to buy that, but there's no way to buy from that guy's website.

Not to mention, that guy's site is so ugly, it made me nauseous just browsing for a few moments.

http://www.drdesmo.com/

That website is so ugly, it must have fallen out of the ugly tree and hit every branch!

That website is so ugly, that when it went to the zoo, the guard said: "Thanks for bringing it back."

That website is so ugly, that when it was born, the doctor slapped its mama.

[Speeddog]

How about you look at our sponsor's offerings?

One of them has a drainplug just like that.

[scott_araujo]

Ummm.... How long before the corners of that aluminum nut round off?  Longer or shorter than the original allen plug?  I guess you can at least get a Vice-Grip on it then.

Scott

[Dietrich]

Michael -

With all your internet savy I'm sure you could find at least half a dozen drain bolt options before slamming all over a Ducati parts website (I have no affiliation.....). 

+1 on checking out supporting vendors offerings.

Also saw this one today on fleabay, looks to be a billet version of the stocker:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUCATI-SPORT-CLASSIC-CASUNO-SAFETY-WIRE-MAG-DRAIN-PLUG_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3357f1d7f5QQitemZ220518799349QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

[Michael]

How about you look at our sponsor's offerings?

One of them has a drainplug just like that.

One of them?

Well, after some "internet savvy" searching, I think Moto Wheels is the one to which Speeddog is referring.

Click here


And here is a picture of it on someone's bike.

[rule62]

OMG... that drain plug can't be any good.  Don't you see... there's no oil in that bike!!!

[ducatiz]

Michael -

With all your internet savy I'm sure you could find at least half a dozen drain bolt options before slamming all over a Ducati parts website (I have no affiliation.....). 

he didn't really slam the dealer, just their website design.. and you know what?  that make the beast with two backsing sight gave me a headache.  his products are GREAT but looking at his website was like being a victim in "Scanners"

note to world:  backgrounds should not be red or bright green or yellow.  it causes epilepsy.