DIY - Removing Fuel Tank Drain Plug

[ctaylor738]

This weekend I tackled the thirteen-year old fuel in the tank of the 250C. I needed to remove the drain plug to get access to the strainer which I believed was completely clogged.

The plug has a 22mm hex fitting as in you need a 22mm Allen wrench or socket. Trust me, this is not something you find at your local auto parts store on a Saturday morning.

After rooting around in my tool box, I discovered that a 13/16" 3/8 drive Craftsman spark plug socket has a 7/8 head, which fit perfectly in the drain plug. I then stuck the head of a 5/8" spark plug socket into the 13/16" socket. I then put a 5/8" threaded rod coupler (from Home Depot) into the 5/8" spark plug socket, put a 5/8" socket on the breaker bar and out it came.

I am not making this up. I swear it worked and thought I would pass it on.

Chuck

The knee bone is connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone.....Yes I love it! I'll save this to my hard drive for future reference!

[Ed Richardson]

When I pulled my tank, I had the same problem and took it to my local MB mech. He found a 22mm bolt, heated and bent the shaft 90 degrees and, voila! a 22mm hex wrench. Your solution was just as good. Congratulations, Ed

[Douglas Broome]

Another method, which I have used, is to find a hardened bolt with a head of the correct size (22mm or 7/8in, for the current application). Screw down and tighten real hard three nuts on the bolt. Then put the head of the bolt into the allen cavity and turn it counter clockwise with an open-end wrench on the nut nearest the bolt head. Use a hardened bolt dso as not to break off the bolt head in the allen cavity with attendant problems getting it out.

[Douglas Broome]

Another method, which I have used, is to find a hardened bolt with a head of the correct size (22mm or 7/8in, for the current application). Screw down and tighten real hard three nuts on the bolt. Then put the head of the bolt into the allen cavity and turn it counter clockwise with an open-end wrench on the nut nearest the bolt head. Use a hardened bolt so as not to break off the bolt head in the allen cavity with attendant problems getting it out.