For all the vehicles I have ever owned, the first thing I do is to get a magnetic oil drain plug.
The benefit of it is debatable depending of what sources you are reading.
But it is stronger than me. Indeed, it is like a religion.
Milano got to have the Magnetic Oil Drain Plug.
I have looked and searched everywhere for the XT225 magnetic drain plug.
Since it is a low volume “Girl Bike”, there is not much after market parts available.
Until Mr. Mule offers to fabricate one for around $15, with shipping to Florida, total cost comes out to be around $18.
Emails have been exchanged as to how much Mr. Mule would charge to ship a New Magnetic drain plug.
After all, the
New Drain Plug does not cost that much.
But to keep the cost down, Mr. Mule prefers that we ship the current drain plug to him for machining.
In exchange, he will machine another drain plug from another bike.
This idea with an unknown part history does not seem too Kosher for Milano.
Indeed, he enjoys riding long distance to far away places.
To have a defective oil drain plug from an unknown bike would be undesirable, stuck in the middle of no where.
But Mr. Mule got a point. What would I do with an extra oil drain plug?
Yep, I have enough OEM spare parts to service a whole fleet of XT225’s.
They are now sitting collecting dust in the part bin.
On Thursday night, Milano drained the Mobil Oil MX4T which he just changed a few days ago (bummer).
Devoid of vital fluid, the bike is kept alive with a heart/lung machine while a Battery Tender keeps the 24h vigilance.
The plug, packed in ice, is on its way to Mr Mule in Florida.
It is shipped cross country from California.
Milano request that either, it is machined from the enclosed painted plug or exchange it with a new plug.
Mr. Mule advises that he got a few new plugs and this is what Milano is going to get.
Hmmm, Mr Mule might have to do some explaining to the person who gets the Purple Plug.
Oh Yeah?
For some reason, I believe the Purple Plug will return to California, Eh?
Many days have passed, and it is now Friday and still No Magnetic Plug.
Looks like the USPS Priority Mail took the Scenic Route to Florida, Eh?
Milano is getting concerned. Soon it will be two weekends and still he cannot ride.
Mr. Mule PM back and advised it was shipped on Thursday.
Yippee!
As expected, the Purple Plug (now Magnetic) has returned home on Sat.
What a relief! Better late than never
The posting pics by the fabricator is far away and is difficult to see the detail
Here are some macro pics
As described he uses a spiral lock ring sitting on top of two Neo Magnets.
It can be just one magnet but it looks more like a twin Neo.
They look well behaved sitting tight like a Siamese twin.
The magnet has some play on its base like about 1/1.5 mm.
Here a different angle view
Now to get the spring to sit on the drain plug is a different story.
The magnet is Very Strong and the spring keeps misbehaving.
It seems to have a "magnetic" attraction to this newcomer.
The trick is to get a whip, look at the spring eyes to eyes and speak in no uncertain term.
- If you jump again like a clown, I will melt you down!
Holy Cow, it works.
Now, it is tame and is behaving like a good child.
Looks Mom, No Hands!
Overall, it seems to be a good design and the price is about right.
Depending on where you live, delivery time can be a week or a little over a week.
We will know how much junk it will pick up on the next oil change.
Time will tell.
Milano