Hello,
Looking at archives,guess this dipstick has problems. Methinks I twisted dipstick by hand too tight. Plastic cap just spins on tank fill tube. I'm afraid to use pliers to loosen dip stick from threads,as it bends.
Found dipstick on chassisparts.com,but dipstick was L shaped and price was$110!!
Maybe the chassis parts com would work. Mine is 5" long from plastic lid top to dip stick bottom.
When you turn the cap are the threads turning?
From the pic. it looks like the rubber is squished too much and not going down the tube. Take some Chanelock pliers and grab the round metal threaded pieced and hold tight not the dip stick it's self. Loosen the "T" handle till it gets down to where the last threads are bent. (this is to keep you from unscrewing it too far and the hole mess ending up in the bottom of the tank) when loose it should work just fine.
Mike
Mike, tried to hold threaded shaft and turn dipstick, but it started to bend. I've ordered a dipstick used for semis I believe from same era. I googled old number, Q347137,and many suppliers came up. Old part number came from chassis parts.com site. They're crazy charging $110 for $18 dipstick.
You're correct, rubber washer had ballooned out to touch cap, which just sits on reservoir now.
Will update when part arrives.
Thanks everyone.
Use a pair of large channel locks and grab the round washer the screw is in and then turn the dipstick handle to loosen.
Craneman,
Thanks for your tip. I used small craftsman needle nose vice grips and held washer and turned Nelson plastic knob.
It came loose . Even cleaned up rubber grommet a bit.
My new dipstick is already on its way, doesn't hurt to have a spare if it works. Thanks
Final update, the fleet guard part number,
Q347137 is an exact replacement for my 1996.
Thanks again for replies and ideas!
Looks good!
I replaced the hex bolt with one that's 1/2" longer which provided extra threads to accommodate a nylock nut. That way I can't
overloosen the cap and have the dipstick fall away from the bolt and into the oil-filled reservoir. I realize the end threads on the original bolt are buggered up, but that didn't prevent me from losing the dipstick in the tank.