The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I was trying to install the belly drain and ran into a little problem. The access hole is slightly off center, making removal very difficult. I tried using a wrench through the adjacent access panel but couldn't get enough torque to free the plug. (I don't think it has ever been removed) Has anyone else run into this problem and if so how did you go about getting the plug out and drain in. I'm thinking about enlarging the hole but would rather not cut into the sheet metal if I don't have to. Thoughts??

delete

No help with the plug removal but just an FYI.

1. The hole in the fuselage on an A model will not line up with a drain valve.

2. If you bought the valve with the STC and planned to use the STC to sign it off you can't. The STC doesn't cover the A model.

If you were going to install a drain valve under a minor alteration, have at it, it just won't line up with the stock hole.

Thanks for the advice! I was hoping to not have to remove the valve but this might be going in that direction. I'm gonna have to go searching for that box wrench because as you said the plug is very soft. I've already messed it up a bit, but I was smart enough to stop before I did any major damage to it. Why Cessna decided to put the access hole off center blows my mind.

I did it, and like BigRenna had to remove the whole assembly because of the brass fitting. I have always had belly drains and not having one made me nervous.
I made a corresponding hole which ends up looking like a 7/8 moon shape, but hey, who cares? The hardest part was by far reinstalling the selector with the two bolts/nuts. I couldn't get my hand in there and had to find the smallest mechanic in the region to get his forearm in the service port. Bad design.....

spduffee wrote:... Bad design.....

I've always had a mental picture of the very beginning of the 170 assembly line having been the fuel valve hanging by a thread from the ceiling. They then proceed to build the airplane around it...