Patent ID: 7891945

Claim:
A method for plugging a turbine wheel hole in a turbine wheel, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining a turbine wheel hole plug that includes an approximate cylindrical body, a first flange at a first end of the body, and a hollow cylinder at the second end of the body, wherein the body, the first flange and the hollow cylinder are sized such that: 1) the cylindrical body fits snuggly into the turbine wheel hole; 2) the first flange comprises a diameter that is greater than the diameter of the turbine wheel hole; and 3) the hollow cylinder protrudes from one end of the turbine wheel hole when the turbine wheel hole plug is inserted into the other end of the turbine wheel hole until the first flange abuts the turbine wheel; positioning the turbine wheel hole plug into the turbine wheel hole; and deforming the hollow cylinder so that the hollow cylinder flares outward.