Treaded plug (16mm) on bottom of oil pan???

[ammolab]

There is a machined flat spot on the bottom of the oil pan on my 2011 R1200R with
A 16x1.5mm plug installed.
These are the parts on the fiche:
02 07119902292 SCREW PLUG - M16X1,5 0.04 1 $2.90
03 07119963252 GASKET RING - A16X20

What is/was that hole used for? Oil temp sender? If I want to install a gauge one day
is that a good place for a sender?

[dbrick]

The same plug and gasket appear on the bottom of the Hexhead motors. It's the oil drain plug.

[ammolab]

Maybe I picked the wrong part #s but this is the smaller plug
on the left side bottom of the crankcase... different from and NOT the plug I
am using as an "oil drain".

This plug takes a small Hex (4mm?) and fits flush with the machined flat on the case.

[mogu83]

Did you try to take it out. Seems like it's a holder for a little spring and ball bearing. When anyone other than a trained technician opens it, the spring will shoot out, take one bounce on the floor and launch itself into another dimension never to be seen again. The ball bearing will fall out and roll into one of the dark recesses of the garage requiring the use of a powerful magnet to retreve it after many hours of searching.

Just kidding but falling back on fifty years of screwing things up it's most likely close to true. I figure if you don't have to touch it then leave it alone. And we know which one is the oil drain, it's the one with the Torx or the hex.

[ammolab]

Did you try to take it out. Seems like it's a holder for a little spring and ball bearing. When anyone other than a trained technician opens it, the spring will shoot out, take one bounce on the floor and launch itself into another dimension never to be seen again. The ball bearing will fall out and roll into one of the dark recesses of the garage requiring the use of a powerful magnet to retreve it after many hours of searching.

Just kidding but falling back on fifty years of screwing things up it's most likely close to true. I figure if you don't have to touch it then leave it alone. And we know which one is the oil drain, it's the one with the Torx or the hex.

Maybe the Oil Pressure Relief valve then?? I am leaving that sucker alone!

Thanks!