016 Transmission Drain Plug Adventures

[Alex Kowalski]

Aaaaaarrrrrgh.  I'm finally getting around to putting the Redline MT-90 in my 5KCSTQ transmission, and so I decided I'd better get myself the right tool for the job.  A search of the archives here at Audifans, of course, turned up all the references I needed -- the part numbers for the 17mm hex plug sockets by both Snap-On and FACOM (CPT110A and D107-17, respectively.)  I'd rather have the sockets than try to use a big Allen wrench...you know, do the job right, and all that.

So, I figure that since I live in a great big city like Chicago, it should be possible to find said sockets.  I don't know any Snap-On dealers off the top of my head, so first I tried their website...and I found out that they were charging almost $30 for the CPT110A...at least they were yesterday!  Weeeeoooo...that MUCH!?  For one socket?!?!.  

Sooooo...I decided to look for the FACOM piece instead.  Tough to find FACOM in Chicago, but SK Tools in Chicago apparently distributes for them, so I called them up and they sent me to two OTHER dealers (a rubber company and McMaster-Carr) who didn't have any, either.  So then I tried a place in Maryland and THEY didn't have any...BUT this time the nice fellow (Maryland Metrics, Owings Mills MD) on the phone was a little more forthcoming, and he told me that the "Chicago warehouse" had ____*91*____ of them in stock, but would *only* sell them to him in batches of 10, so I was SOL unless I wanted to spend $120 or had 9 friends.  

[EXPLETIVES REDACTED]

So I went back and tried the Snap-On website again, because now I decided to try and find a Snap-On dealer.  Typed CPT110A into their search box, and LO AND BEHOLD!  The price has dropped to $14!!!!  In one day!!!  On the same part!!! And I didn't even buy anything yet!!!

Tomorrow I'm going to give their Chicago offices a call and try to get in touch with a Chicago Snap-On truck.  But if anyone is looking to make a bulk purchase of FACOM "17mm hex pipe plug" sockets, you can try the Chicago warehouse number on the FACOM website (www.facom.com), because they've got a bucket full of them, apparently.  And if you are wondering what the (current) price from Snap-on is, now you know.  I wonder what caused the precipitous drop in price in just a 24 hour period on the Snap-On e-commerce site?  Honest to the Audi Gods, it was $29 just yesterday.   Did I cause a price war between Snap-On and FACOM?   ;-)

And I haven't even TOUCHED the transmission yet...

Cheers,
Alex Kowalski
'87 5KCSTQ
Trans. Plugs Still In Place