Geoff,

I've seen lots of tool conconctions involving nuts and bolts, etc. which always
seem to work marginally.  Do yourself the favor and go to the Bus Depot web
site and order:

         Transaxle drain plug socket, 3/8           $3.50     part # 5773

BTW, it's 17mm.  Now you'll have the right tool for the job.

The fill plug has a tapered thread, so it can be VERY tight.

WD40 sucks as a penetrant.  WD = water displacement.  That's what it's good
for.  Get yourself some penetrant like PB Blaster or Kroil.  Kroil can be
mailordered from Brownell's (brownells.com), which is a gunsmithing supply
place.  PB Blaster is a most FLAPS.

soak, tap, torque, soak, tap, torque....

-Karl

> Hi Folks,
> Tried to change my gear box oil the other day, but when I inserted my trusty
> plug removing tool, (a bolt with 2 nuts tightened up together,) I turned the
> thing right in half and the plug didn't even move. this could be a problem.
> The plug seems to want to accept an 18 or 19mm hex key, and now I suppose I'll
> have to get the correct tool and give the plug plenty of WD40 first. Has
> anyone else had this experience with a car that obviously hasn't had a gearoil
> change for many years, and how did you get on?
> I'm dead scared of damaging the threads as both the box and the plug are
> alloy.
> Geoff
> '82.
>
> >From Geoff Law
> Perth.
> 61-89 4463196
> 0407 46 3196 mobile
>

Karl & Kristina Bloss - Trexlertown, PA
'87 Westy Weekender "Bev" - 201K Miles
'85 Westy Camper "Fred" - 44K Miles
http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw - vanagon@makarov.com
PA/NJ/DE/MD area VW bus "group" http://www.enter.net/~bloss/vw/pavanagon