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Please tell me whether this is a bad idea...

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yb7tt3wm

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2023
Messages
25
I've got an Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate 20 gallon air compressor (upright version). Like a lot of air compressors, it seems, the oil drain plug is in a really bad place that facilitates making a mess during oil changes. This year, I decided that I would put an adapter in there and then put a Fumoto valve on there. I took the drain plug out and tried it in my thread measuring tool. It screwed into the 10mmx1.0 hole. Great, I thought, and I purchased an adapter and a Fumoto valve. When I got the adapter, it wouldn't screw in at all. What the heck? So, I took a look at the drain plug more closely this time and noticed that it was tapered. At the end of the plug, it was about 9mm and at the base it was about 10mm. I took a look at a 1/8 NPT plug that I have and they looked very close. So, I tried screwing in my 1/8 NPT plug. Nope. It didn't screw in but about 1.5 turns. So, I returned that 10mmX1.0 adapter and after doing a lot of research online, I decided that my plug was probably it 1/8 BSPT. The air compressor is made in Taiwan and apparently they use BSPT there. I found a 1/8 BSPT adapter and ordered it. Just like the drain plug and the 1/8 NPT plug, this new adapter is about 10mm at the base and 9mm at the end. Same thing! It screws in about 1.5 turns and then starts to bind. What the hell?

Today, I said to hell with it, and put some TFE paste on the threads of the adapter and screwed it in. Once I couldn't hand tighten it any farther, I slowly tightened it with a rachet, keeping my hand at the head rather than on the handle. I probably got one more turn of the adapter in there. It is tight. I haven't orderd the Fumoto valve that works with this adapter yet. Before I do, is this being a really dumb?

Anybody have any other ideas what the taper standard might be on this plug? Is my current solution almost certainly going to leak? Should I take it out and put the original plug back in and give up on this idea?

Thanks,
Bryan
 
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Fixr

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Joined
Dec 23, 2012
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9,702
Location
SW VA
yb7tt3wm said:
I've got an Ingersoll Rand Garage Mate 20 gallon air compressor (upright version). Like a lot of air compressors, it seems, the oil drain plug is in a really bad place that facilitates making a mess during oil changes. This year, I decided that I would put an adapter in there and then put a Fumoto valve on there. I took the drain plug out and tried it in my thread measuring tool. It screwed into the 10mmx1.0 hole. Great, I thought, and I purchased an adapter and a Fumoto valve. When I got the adapter, it wouldn't screw in at all. What the heck? So, I took a look at the drain plug more closely this time and noticed that it was tapered. At the end of the plug, it was about 9mm and at the base it was about 10mm. I took a look at a 1/8 NPT plug that I have and they looked very close. So, I tried screwing in my 1/8 NPT plug. Nope. It didn't screw in but about 1.5 turns. So, I returned that 10mmX1.0 adapter and after doing a lot of research online, I decided that my plug was probably it 1/8 BSPT. The air compressor is made in Taiwan and apparently they use BSPT there. I found a 1/8 BSPT adapter and ordered it. Just like the drain plug and the 1/8 NPT plug, this new adapter is about 10mm at the base and 9mm at the end. Same thing! It screws in about 1.5 turns and then starts to bind. What the hell?

Today, I said to hell with it, and put some TFE paste on the threads of the adapter and screwed it in. Once I couldn't hand tighten it any farther, I slowly tightened it with a rachet, keeping my hand at the head rather than on the handle. I probably got one more turn of the adapter in there. It is tight. I haven't orderd the Fumoto valve that works with this adapter yet. Before I do, is this being a really dumb?

Anybody have any other ideas what the taper standard might be on this plug? Is my current solution almost certainly going to leak? Should I take it out and put the original plug back in and give up on this idea?

Thanks,
Bryan
Click to expand...
I don't have an answer, but fluid extractors are getting really affordable and eliminate the oil draining mess.
 
R

RTM

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Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
13,145
Location
SF Bay Area
I have a newer CAT compressor, and the pipe thread on the pressure switch seems to be standard US thread taper, even tho made on China.

As said above, hold the two male fittings side by side, flipped 180 deg, the thread pitch n taper should match perfectly.
 
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Y

yb7tt3wm

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2023
Messages
25
Thank you to each of you for your responses, especially the suggestion to compare the threads of the original male oil drain plug with that 1/8 NPT plug that I had and also with my 1/8 BSPT adapter. I know my old eyes aren't great anymore, but I got the brightest light I could find and shined the light from behind as I paired up both the NPT and BSPT threads to the original plug (180 degrees on end). Both of them seem to line up perfectly and fit like a glove. I know that isn't really possible, but without magnification, I couldn't tell any difference. That gave me enough confidence to reinstall the adapter so I ended up putting new TFE paste on the BSPT adapter and screwing it back in. I got it finger tight and then using the ratchet, I tightened it one more full turn. I'll give it a go with Fumoto valve and see what happens.

Thanks again!
Bryan
 
M

MJD1

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Messages
607
yb7tt3wm said:
Thank you to each of you for your responses, especially the suggestion to compare the threads of the original male oil drain plug with that 1/8 NPT plug that I had and also with my 1/8 BSPT adapter. I know my old eyes aren't great anymore, but I got the brightest light I could find and shined the light from behind as I paired up both the NPT and BSPT threads to the original plug (180 degrees on end). Both of them seem to line up perfectly and fit like a glove. I know that isn't really possible, but without magnification, I couldn't tell any difference. That gave me enough confidence to reinstall the adapter so I ended up putting new TFE paste on the BSPT adapter and screwing it back in. I got it finger tight and then using the ratchet, I tightened it one more full turn. I'll give it a go with Fumoto valve and see what happens.

Thanks again!
Bryan
Click to expand...
British pipe thread is a different pitch, I believe 28tpi and npt is 27tpi. What you described going in 1-1-1/2 threads sounds about right if mismatched.
 
OP
Y

yb7tt3wm

Active member
Joined
Apr 7, 2023
Messages
25
I did something that I should have done previously. I got myself a thread count gauge and a big magnifying glass. Looks like the original drain plug is indeed 1/8" NPT.

Thanks all!
-Bryan
 
H

Hohn

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Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
2,640
Location
Diesel Central, Indiana
Glad to hear it worked out. FYI— grease gun hose is typically 1/8 NPT and is a super easy way to relocate a drain or pressure sensor port that’s tapped 1/8 NPT.

You could find a grease gun hose of length that works for you and relocate the drain and valve.
 
H

Hohn

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Joined
Aug 25, 2016
Messages
2,640
Location
Diesel Central, Indiana
Beerhippie said:
81B+za5o8-L._AC_SL1500_.jpg

Doesn't everyone wear these things?
Click to expand...
I have those very Yoctosuns and they are way better than you’d think for the money. The switch for the light seems super fragile and the lens mounting feels like it will eject the lens. But optically it is excellent and the headset is very comfortable.
 
B

Beerhippie

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Joined
Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,768
Location
Far NE Oregon
Hohn said:
I have those very Yoctosuns and they are way better than you’d think for the money. The switch for the light seems super fragile and the lens mounting feels like it will eject the lens. But optically it is excellent and the headset is very comfortable.
Click to expand...
As I discovered the other day, the lens mount will eject the lens if brushed. It wouldn't have much mattered had I not been standing on a ten-foot ladder at the time. Lens chipped some when it hit the concrete, but still usable.
 
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