Broke my air compressor drain plug

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Need some help.. Have a Ingersoll SS3L3 compressor in my shop..  With all the hot weather and humidity I went to try and turn the drain plug to drain the water out.  The wing nut sheared off when I tried to turn it.. Not sure what to do now..  Any ideas?  It's a pain.. I just ran new copper to it, and have it bolted down..  I checked the IR web site and searched around but don't see anybody that has a similar problem..  Anybody run into this or have any ideas?Last edited by deere2210; 08-13-2007 at 09:12 PM.
Reply:Hit it with some WD-40 or another favorite penetrating oil and then see if it has some flat surface on it so you can put a crescent or open end/box end wrench on it.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Gosh what a coincident...I almost broke mine off today too....had to make love to it so it would not break and while I was trying to drain it I was wondering how to fix it if it should strip.  Small world. weld it like you own it
Reply:Take the whole valve out and replace it.
Reply:Sounds straightforward for a Sandy-type solution.  How about a photo if his suggestion is difficult to execute?awright
Reply:It shouldn't be hard to find a new valve at you local hardware store. It should cost 2 or 3 bucks. In the meantime this a job for vicegrips.
Reply:Take the valve out, replace with an elbow, and put a ball valve on the end of a short line, out where you can reach it easily. A hose on the outlet to the waste point (collection can, drain, whatever. If the compressor is oiled, you really need to catch the goop... bad for the environment, and running into a drain is pretty much a BAD THING.)
Reply:Mine broke off last week.  Then I took a pair of vice grips to it and the value started to shear off.  Oh well, guess I'll get myself a good water filter.
Reply:no room on the bottom to get an easy out on it?
Reply:Originally Posted by RaindemMine broke off last week.  Then I took a pair of vice grips to it and the value started to shear off...
Reply:Happens a lot.  Most people turn it the wrong way being upside down and all.  Awright is correct, take the whole valve out.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene