final drive drain plug?

[Keith L]

Has anyone drilled and tapped a hole for a pipe plug in the bottom of the final drive casting to drain the oil instead of removing the pan? Seems like it should be easy enough. Would work on all loboys including the non numbered series. Finals don't take much fluid so I'd like to change annually as this tractor will be used for mowing duty on 4 acres.

[BigBill]

Why not weld a 1/2-20 nut to the outside bottom of the final pan then you can use a 1/2-20 drain plug and copper washer on it?

I did this alot with automatic trannys so they can be drained easily.

[Keith L]

That sounds like a better idea. I'm going to do it that way. And if my welding is presentable, I'll post a picture.

[BigBill]

I'm going to do the samething on my final pans too. It speeds up the oil change time alot.

Plus on the auto tranny's i got tired of the oil mess everytime i serviced my tranny's.( once a year maintenance)

You first remove the pan, clean it, wire brush the area to be welded, drill a 1/2" hole, then bolt on the inside so the nut on the outside so its held in place then go around it 360 degrees with a solid bead. Remove the bolt from the inside put the copper washer on it and install it on the outside and paint it. Its that simple. If you have any anti-splatter welding spray you could spray the bolt threads so the weld splatter won't stick to it too. You could braze or gas weld it too that will work also.

[Garland Terry]

Whoa hold up dere!! would it be better to just take the time to pull the pans or better yet just suck the fluid out. It scares me to go cutting and welding on haard to find parts. I know I have done it myself but I is ignert about most things. How often are you planning on changing the oil in the bull gears? I have to add new oil once in a great while but I don't worry about changing it.

[Keith L]

i'm going to use this machine for 3 to 4 hours a week during the mowing season so I thought I'd change the fluid annually as the manual suggests. As far as welding a nut on the pan, that doesn't bother me. The pans are fairly easy to get and I'm really not going to damage it. It surely will make annual changes very easy.

[BigBill]

I like to change my gear oils and tranny oils on all my vechicals/equipment at least once a year if its easy to do thats a plus.

[Keith L]

Big Bill, where are you in CT, my brother lives in Hebron. Also I see you have a Speedex. My buddy has one of those. That sure is a strange way of engaging the drive!

[red56turbo]

Just make sure you get all the shavings cleaned out.

Red56

[BigBill]

Big Bill, where are you in CT, my brother lives in Hebron. Also I see you have a Speedex. My buddy has one of those. That sure is a strange way of engaging the drive!

The speedex is a weird one with the pedal operated sliding motor to tighten the drive belt tention. My sons girlfriends 10 yo son loves driving the speedex. I can't believe they really farmed with these tractors but they did. I guess never under estimate the little guys. Thats the only reason i keep it for him to play with. I'm in Plymouth north of waterbury.

[BigBill]

Just make sure you get all the shavings cleaned out.

Red56

Were removing the oil pan from the final drive to drill and weld/braze a 1/2-20 nut on the outside of it so a drain plug can be installed. Your right we need to make sure its clean from all the drilling and welding splatter too.

[Garland Terry]

i'm going to use this machine for 3 to 4 hours a week during the mowing season so I thought I'd change the fluid annually as the manual suggests. As far as welding a nut on the pan, that doesn't bother me. The pans are fairly easy to get and I'm really not going to damage it. It surely will make annual changes very easy.

well ok if you insist. Do you have a MIG or are you going to braze it? Just curious.

[Bermuda Ken]

I would recommend pulling the drain pans. There are sediments that need to be removed. The pan gasket is not that expensive to buy either.