Clean out plug doesn't fit

[Matt Phillips]

I don't know about the new style plugs, but the old ones if you store the boat, remove the plugs...otherwise they can swell and get stuck. I'm wondering if your plugs swelled a little but and didn't want to go in then?

Just a hypothesis...

 

[Chad Sears]

Sorry for the delay. I took the boat into the dealer and they were having a problem getting it lock in place at first as well. After about an hour or so they told me they got it to fit. I don't know what they used to force it in place but it was very difficult to get it in place the first few times. I haven't messed with it much but I am assuming the more you use the looser and easier gets to use.

 

[Julian]

Sorry for the delay. I took the boat into the dealer and they were having a problem getting it lock in place at first as well. After about an hour or so they told me they got it to fit. I don't know what they used to force it in place but it was very difficult to get it in place the first few times. I haven't messed with it much but I am assuming the more you use the looser and easier gets to use.

So you are now able to lock and unlock it (twist it into place---the new style plug)?

 

[Matt Phillips]

They shouldn't take an hour to seat...they should only take a few moments.

 

[Chad Sears]

So you are now able to lock and unlock it (twist it into place---the new style plug)?

I haven't messed with it. We are setting new records with our colder than average temps. I was able to do it at the dealer so I assume I will be able to get it done when I take it out. Still need to get my registration numbers put on.

 

[Matt Phillips]

My general rule with the man hole covers is: If the boat is out of the water, the plugs are out. I do keep my boat in the lake all summer, and the rule changes to: put them in at the beginning of the weekend, and take them out at the end of the weekend. When I remove them, I also take them out and lay them across the top of the access holes. This keeps them from swelling.

 

[Buoy23]

I haven't messed with it. We are setting new records with our colder than average temps. I was able to do it at the dealer so I assume I will be able to get it done when I take it out. Still need to get my registration numbers put on.

When my dealer was showing me how the plug worked at the Toronto Boat Show he even said they were a pain in the ass! He said he is going to make a tool that fits down the clean out hole to make the job much easier. Once I pick up my boat May 2 I'm going to look into doing the same.

 

[Julian]

When my dealer was showing me how the plug worked at the Toronto Boat Show he even said they were a pain in the ass! He said he is going to make a tool that fits down the clean out hole to make the job much easier. Once I pick up my boat May 2 I'm going to look into doing the same.

Strange....when I tried installing and pulling them at the Yamaha event last year they were almost too easy to install....I was concerned they weren't going to obvious if you had them in right....but the arrow on the top helps. Perhaps those plugs had been pulled and inserted a lot already.

 

[malibu Dan]

Strange....when I tried installing and pulling them at the Yamaha event last year they were almost too easy to install....I was concerned they weren't going to obvious if you had them in right....but the arrow on the top helps. Perhaps those plugs had been pulled and inserted a lot already.

I agree, the few times I have removed/installed the clean out plug it went in and came out very easily...

 

[Buoy23]

I agree, the few times I have removed/installed the clean out plug it went in and came out very easily...

Good to know, hopefully I'll have no issues as well.

 

[Jeff L]

I don't have a lot of experience with mine yet, however, I've found they work no problem when I push down on them slightly and then turn them into the lock position . There's a distinct locking sound (click). I keep mine out when not using or trailering and I grease them too. Hope this helps.

 

[Chad Sears]

Maybe I just need to grease them up a bit to make it easier to get them in and out. I was also thinking that as I used them over time they would get easier to use. I am waiting for a decent day to get the cover off in the driveway and mess around with the boat. I haven't unwrapped the carpets yet or anything.

 

[buckbuck]

I would not suggest grease as it would be messy. I just spray mine with silicone a few times a season.

 

[Chad Sears]

I would not suggest grease as it would be messy. I just spray mine with silicone a few times a season.

Thanks for the heads up! I will have to get some spray silicone.

 

[Zonie]

Get the CRC Silicone spray from Walmart. I spray it on everything, linkages, pumps, etc. Works great and dries instantly. $2.28 per can.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/CNC-Heavy-Duty-Silicone-Lubricant/16817419

 

[maboat]

Forgive me if I'm telling you something you already know, but on the old style plugs, the release has to be pushed while the plug is being seated.

I believe you are thinking of the JBP Tru-Locks. The factory locks do not require you to push the release while seating the plugs

 

[Osric]

I could use members' advice on this issue.

Had my boat for one season - 2017 with the new style plugs - always removed the plugs if the boat was lifted out of the water for more than a few days at a stretch. So many times last year I have removed and inserted the plugs - my recollection is that one side was easier than the other but I never did grease them or have any significant difficulty installing them.

Now, trying to get my boat ready to go for the new season, neither my son or I can force the plugs into place. At best, a tiny bit of the tab grabs which is enough to taxi the boat gently around the lake but I doubt it would hold if we actually used the boat. I added some marine grease on one side but even with that no dice, we definitely can't get the plug in place.

Advice welcome! This is the most recent thread I could find on the topic which is why I thought I'd start by asking here.

Thanks

 

[Jeff L]

I could use members' advice on this issue.

Had my boat for one season - 2017 with the new style plugs - always removed the plugs if the boat was lifted out of the water for more than a few days at a stretch. So many times last year I have removed and inserted the plugs - my recollection is that one side was easier than the other but I never did grease them or have any significant difficulty installing them.

Now, trying to get my boat ready to go for the new season, neither my son or I can force the plugs into place. At best, a tiny bit of the tab grabs which is enough to taxi the boat gently around the lake but I doubt it would hold if we actually used the boat. I added some marine grease on one side but even with that no dice, we definitely can't get the plug in place.

Advice welcome! This is the most recent thread I could find on the topic which is why I thought I'd start by asking here.

Thanks

Make sure the “lock” tabs are lined up correctly. They are on the far left The plugs won’t cooperate if these two pieces aren’t aligned.

 

[Osric]

@JeffL thanks for trying to help -- I did have the tabs lined up correctly.

However what I was doing wrong was still embarrassingly basic: I wasn't pressing down hard enough. We were pressing down, and we thought pressing plenty hard, but still the metal just wasn't lining up with its track.

Thinking that in desperation we could freeze the metal part of the plug to make it fit, we disassembled the plug mechanism. While we were at it, we agreed there was no way the rubber seal was the issue ... but nonetheless tested putting in the metal ring without the rubber seal. Wow what an easy fit! If anything, disturbingly loose ... so this motivated us to just press down harder, which made it all work as expected.

So I feel pretty silly but really lean into the plug first then twist and it twists in with basically no resistance at all. The downward pressure in our case seemed extreme compared to what I remembered from last year, but I do remember needing to press down then, too.

Lesson learned.

 

[Jeff L]

@JeffL thanks for trying to help -- I did have the tabs lined up correctly.

However what I was doing wrong was still embarrassingly basic: I wasn't pressing down hard enough. We were pressing down, and we thought pressing plenty hard, but still the metal just wasn't lining up with its track.

Thinking that in desperation we could freeze the metal part of the plug to make it fit, we disassembled the plug mechanism. While we were at it, we agreed there was no way the rubber seal was the issue ... but nonetheless tested putting in the metal ring without the rubber seal. Wow what an easy fit! If anything, disturbingly loose ... so this motivated us to just press down harder, which made it all work as expected.

So I feel pretty silly but really lean into the plug first then twist and it twists in with basically no resistance at all. The downward pressure in our case seemed extreme compared to what I remembered from last year, but I do remember needing to press down then, too.

Lesson learned.

Ah, yes, I remember that being a problem when I first got it too. Now it’s just habit. Happy boating!