Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Triumph bulletin board Sludge trap - can't budge it

Trying to get the sludge trap out of a '72 650 crankshaft. The plug is out. I pulled out the flywheel bolt over the trap. Can't seem to get the trap to move at all. The manual says use a spoke to pull it out, but I don't have a motorcycle spoke, so I'm trying a heavy bicycle spoke, gripped with locking pliers and tapped with a hammer. It won't move. What are my options?
Al

Hi.
There are plenty of videos listed on Youtube that show some of the methods that might be applied. Just search for "Triumph sludge trap" and you will find the videos.
Good luck!

People seem to use a giant tap (coarse thread) or use a coach bolt.

https://www.classicbritishspares.com/products/triumph-bsa-sludge-trap-tap-7-8-x-20

https://www.tracytools.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=1007

I have a large (1/2"?) easy out. Put a small wrench on the end and it spins the trap right out.

i also use an ez out. number 6., drill size 13/32-inch. but i cant get a picture of it

http://vintagebikemagazine.com/technical-articles/removing-triumph-sludge-tube/

https://www.lowbrowcustoms.com/blog...w-to-remove-the-triumph-sludge-trap-tube

These should enable you to remove it.

plus 1 ... vintage bike is a master class article .
And lowbrows will get her done too
5/8 tap , threaded just far in enough to catch
and then a nut run down on the tap will extract

I usually find that just turning in the tap frees the tube, it just winds out.

Al, every time I ever run across the bit in the workshop manual about using a spoke to extract the oil tube, I can't help but laugh out loud. It seems like that was a prank by the authors. I have had success using Quinten's method. Best of luck.
-Dave

finally got this to load. tapping it in seems to loosen the sludge trap, then the flukes bite in as you turn.

if its not tight it doesnt damage the tube.

Hi; most methods are invasive and damage at some point the tube. Ask Don (TR7RVMan) here that have the best method. He showed me the way to make an easy tool to remove the tube without force or damage.

Hi Al, You have removed the correct flywheel bolt first? Have to ask.

The very easiest way, that allows pulling with zero damage to tube, & also assits in lining up bolt hole on install is make a puller tool from threaded rod. It just works great.

PM me your email & I can send you detailed videos on how this works.

Here's the thing also. The repro tubes & plugs just fit DON'T the same as originals. So I try to save the original plug & tube whenever possible.

In a nutshell I used this as a starting point. Then modified the tool a little.

Scroll down to step 19. This tool is the really good way in my mind. Again zero damage to anything.

http://vintagebikemagazine.com/technical-articles/removing-triumph-sludge-tube/

Don

Not relevant in this case, but if you have a flywheel bolt that has sheared, put a thick 3/8" washer ino the hole and carefully weld a bolt (suiably tapered) to the washer/sheared bolt. The heat will have softened the Loctite and it will wind out. The bolts invariably shear at the head.I have bought cranks on the cheap because of this problem and fixed them.

Last one I did i threaded in with M16 tap and had to extract with a bolt and nut, it was really jammed in.

Thanks so much for all these great replies. Will be heading out to the workshop in a bit.
Al

Thanks!!!

Does anybody know what the I.D of the sludge tube used in a 500 crank is? I'm assuming its less.

Not to be awkward Mick, but I recently found one that had sheared between the shank and the thread...

Actually pretty relevant I think, as Al will no doubt be prompted to have a good hard look at his bolt(s) and perhaps decide to replace them?

SR

Yes it's significantly smaller. I don't have a number and I'm not sure I have one to measure. I'd guess something like a 7/16 or maybe a 3/8 in tap would be in the ballpark for size. I'll see what I can find tomorrow. Unless CBS beats me to it.

SR

Hi, I would wager most bolts are broken in flywheel by not heating it hot enough to soften loctite. The crank casting is huge & sucks the heat. It takes a long time. I heat until spit boils on side of crank down where threads are. They still are pretty tight to break loose though.
Not heating crank at all is very risky, even if using impact gun.
Don

https://photos.app.goo.gl/9HxgWhzz4jARBmeB6

This what I have to remove sludge traps. Not an easy out like I said before. Every now and then I have a moment of clarity.