Flush port troubles

[Doctor_Venkman]

Hey everyone. After recently having to re-winterize my 2017 GTI, I screwed up and unscrewed the flush port. As it is currently, I have no doubt that it will take on water if I try to float it.



My son and I managed to get the threading restarted but cannot tighten it. How am I supposed to get that thing tight again? Personally I'm too big to get far enough into the compartment to get more than a couple of finger tips on the retaining nut so that won't work.



I've decided to try to lift off the upper hull. At least just enough that I can get an arm in there to hold the retainer. Any other suggestions? Please tell me I'm overlooking a simpler solution.

 

[pwgsx]

I "think" you take a 3/8 socket extension on the external part ( you will see a square as you look into the port from the outside ) and have your son hold the ring from the inside with needle nose pliers or similar while you tighten it.

 

[Doctor_Venkman]

You are correct about the socket extension. With him holding the interior ring and me turning the the outer part, we managed to get the threads started. Every time I would tighten it, it would work loose again when I had to take the torque (twist) out of the interior hose. I didn't think of using needle nose pliers. I'm past that point now, though. LOL! I went ahead and took off all the fender trim and screws. I threw a ratchet strap over a roof rafter, hooked it to the tow eye and lifted the upper hull. Using that, I can lift the hull enough for me to get to that pesky ring and tighten it.

 

[pwgsx]

Glad you got it fixed!

 

[Doctor_Venkman]

Thanks. Finally had time to get it back together last night.

I do want to mention a technique that came in handy when tightening the port. I loosened the hose clamp which allows the fitting to move inside the hose. That made tightening the port much easier.