Oil pan bolt torque

[jcc320]

I need to change the oil pan on my l3430, would anyone know what the torque specs are for the bolts ? I am finding the chart kind of confusing. Also what does everyone torque the drain plug at ? I didn't realize the oil pan was aluminum and stripped the threads on the drain plug with too much torque.
Thanks

 

[JD 4520]

A tad more than finger tight or as soon as it is snug. Does not needed to be torqued

 

[RNeumann]

The oil pan bolts are typically torqued by bolt size. The chart below has what you need. I'm guessing they are 6.5 ..... 8.8 max. Typically the little oil pan bolts would need an inch pound torque wrench.

8.8 metric bolt torque chart - conttrapacbu23's soup

The drain plug is tightened just enough to crush the crush washer or rubber seal. I hold the wrench as close to the bolt head as possible and use mostly my wrist. It's about the same as a spark plug in an aluminum head- 15-25 ft/lbs. It doesn't take much. The book would have you change the washer/seal with every change. It's hardly ever done though

 

[brain55]

I need to change the oil pan on my l3430, would anyone know what the torque specs are for the bolts ? I am finding the chart kind of confusing. Also what does everyone torque the drain plug at ? I didn't realize the oil pan was aluminum and stripped the threads on the drain plug with too much torque.
Thanks

For 8mm bolts the torque is 20 ft lbs
If they are 10mm, which I don't think they are, the torque would be 40 ft lbs.
This is the bolt diameter not the head size.

 

[jcc320]

The oil pan bolts are typically torqued by bolt size. The chart below has what you need. I'm guessing they are 6.5 ..... 8.8 max. Typically the little oil pan bolts would need an inch pound torque wrench.

8.8 metric bolt torque chart - conttrapacbu23's soup

The drain plug is tightened just enough to crush the crush washer or rubber seal. I hold the wrench as close to the bolt head as possible and use mostly my wrist. It's about the same as a spark plug in an aluminum head- 15-25 ft/lbs. It doesn't take much. The book would have you change the washer/seal with every change. It's hardly ever done though

Thanks for the info, so in the manual it lists a 14mm type 7 bolt should be tightened at 91.2 to 108 ft-lbs which doesn't seem close to right, so I was trying to figure out what I am misunderstanding. I tested the bolts that were still on the oil pan with a torque wrench to figure out that torque they are at before removing them and they seem to be around 35 ft-lbs.

 

[RNeumann]

I haven't worked on that motor but 10mm or even 8mm bolts seem huge. 10mm is like 3/8". I was thinking they were small- like 4-6mm. Again as noted above this is bolt diameter and not the head cross section.

 

[brain55]

I haven't worked on that motor but 10mm or even 8mm bolts seem huge. 10mm is like 3/8". I was thinking they were small- like 4-6mm. Again as noted above this is bolt diameter and not the head cross section.

B-series tractors have 6mm bolts, I expect his L-series has 8mm bolts, the old L-series had 10mm bolts and cast iron oil pans. Oh and I've been working on Kubotas for 30 years, I'm just too lazy to look up the bolt diameter in the parts book.

 

[4570Man]

Grab your 3/8 ratchet and run it in snug.

 

[RNeumann]

Bigger than I expected- skip the inch pounds torque wrench if that's the case.

 

[Deere Dude]

I would worry about using the torque specs. because of the lubrication on the threads. I would fear it would get to tight. But maybe that is flawed logic.

I was going to use a torque wrench on my chainsaw bar nuts but after beginning the process I stopped because it seemed way to tight already and still no clicky clicky.

I would use a small box end wrench and push with one hand with about the pressure you would use pushing a full grocery cart of beer. Hate to have it fall out and really hate to strip the threads. In other words a little finesse is involved.

 

[The Fred]

Thanks for the info, so in the manual it lists a 14mm type 7 bolt should be tightened at 91.2 to 108 ft-lbs which doesn't seem close to right, so I was trying to figure out what I am misunderstanding. I tested the bolts that were still on the oil pan with a torque wrench to figure out that torque they are at before removing them and they seem to be around 35 ft-lbs.

Please don't torque it that much!!!!

36-40 ft-lbs is plenty. Use a new crush washer also.

Regards, Fred

 

[jcc320]

Thanks guys for all the advice, the bolt definitely takes a 14mm socket, I went out and double checked it. I think I will go around 35 lbs ft-lbs. I didn't think about ordering crush washers, I wonder if the auto parts store would sell them?
Thanks again

 

[RNeumann]

Auto parts has them. Bring the old one in.

35ft/lbs for what part? The pan bolts or the drain plug?

 

[jcc320]

Auto parts has them. Bring the old one in.

35ft/lbs for what part? The pan bolts or the drain plug?

For the pan bolts. Thanks

 

[dragoneggs]

Man... I would've never guessed 35ft-lbs. That seems really high!!! No need. Also sounds like very big bolts for an oil pan. What is the thread diameter? Wondering if thread and socket size are getting mixed up here.

 

[KennyV]

" the bolt definitely takes a 14mm socket, I went out and double checked it"...

LIke was mentioned Before... If it takes a 14mm socket, It IS NOT a 14mm bolt!
Bolt size is NOT measured at the head of the bolt, It is always measured by the diameter of the bolt, NOT the size of the head.

 

[The Fred]

Pan bolts don't get 35 ft-lbs. The drain plug does.

 

[bspeedy]

I just did the oil pan on my L3600. I torqued all bolts to 25 ft lbs on the recommendation of some guy on the internet and because it felt about right. I torqued from center and worked my way to the outside. Felt right, looked right, holds oil and doesn't leak or weep a bit. I think 35 ft lbs seems a bit much.

Good luck.

 

[jcc320]

Man... I would've never guessed 35ft-lbs. That seems really high!!! No need. Also sounds like very big bolts for an oil pan. What is the thread diameter? Wondering if thread and socket size are getting mixed up here.

I'm wondering if thats where I am confused also, I was assuming they where talking about socket size. So I looked again at that manual it says 14mm is the diameter so that must be what I was missing so I think that was the answer !! 14mm would be a big bolt.

 

[jcc320]

I'm wondering if thats where I am confused also, I was assuming they where talking about socket size. So I looked again at that manual it says 14mm is the diameter so that must be what I was missing so I think that was the answer !! 14mm would be a big bolt.

By the way, thanks again everyone for the help ! This was an expensive lesson, I couldn't handle my tractor being broken down so I went out and ordered a new L4060, guess I will keep the l3430 for mowing and the new one for digging.