Change oil, filter, both or neither?

orezok · Feb 13, 2008

I was servicing the B7800 this past weekend and I noticed that the transmission oil filler plug was off and laying beside the filler hole. It appears that one of the T&T hosed hooked it and popped it out. Here's the dilemma. The plug was still laying on the flat area next to the filler hole (see pic) which is about 4"x6". It could not have stayed there long if the tractor was working because it would have easily bounced off from any movement. I took a clean rag and wiped the horizontal area which would have been under the lip of the plug. Totally clean. I then wiped the inside of the filler hole and again totally clean. Not a speck of grit or even dust.

I'm guessing that the plug was popped out as I shut down the tractor and lowered the box blade.

Would you change the oil, filters, both or just put the plug back in and consider yourself lucky?.

GilaSlim · Feb 13, 2008

orezok said:
Would you change the oil, filters, both or just put the plug back in and consider yourself lucky?.

I think I would consider myself lucky, then reroute the two hoses right behind the plug... Do you have any little ones that might have been playing with Daddy's tractor?

DK35vince · Feb 13, 2008

If it were mine I would just put the cap back on and use it.
I would also move or tie back the TNT hoses so it didn't happen again

California · Feb 14, 2008

Like I tell my kids, there's Big Problems and there's Little Problems. That was a Little Problem. Remedy the situation (tie back the hoses?) and forget about it.

bjcsc · Feb 14, 2008

What an Achilles heel! Isn't there a way to secure the cap? I can't believe it just sits in the hole...

orezok · Feb 14, 2008

I think what happened is that I was doing some precision landscape grading. I took off the quick disconnects to gain greater control of the box blade (the slop in the quick disconnects allows about an inch of additional uncontrolled movement at the back blade. This "lengthened" the hoses about 2.5" and they dropped behind the plug. The plug is quite deep and has two O rings to seal it and usually takes a significant effort to remove. I'll just tie up the hoses for now until I reinstall the quick disconnects.

And no the "little ones" left the roost about 15 years ago and fortunately have not asked to return (yet)!

Thanks for your replies.

Builder · Feb 14, 2008

No need to change oil or filters unless you suspect someone might have vandalized your equipment by pouring some kind of substance into the hole.

I have a padlock on my hood, fuel tank and hydraulic reservoirs to help keep them from being vandalized.

chickenman · Feb 25, 2008

could an airvent be clogged and preasure popped it off?

kbotaman · Feb 25, 2008

chickenman said:
could an airvent be clogged and preasure popped it off?

There is a possibility the breather, located an the front of the rockshaft lift housing is plugged up. This is a rubber hose shaped like a goose's neck. If it gets stopped up it will allow pressure to build up and blow out the fill plug. It"s a good idea to check the breather tube periodicly to insure they do not plug up.

I have had dirt dobbers plug up the breather on my tractor.

orezok · Feb 26, 2008

kbotaman said:
There is a possibility the breather, located an the front of the rockshaft lift housing is plugged up. This is a rubber hose shaped like a goose's neck. If it gets stopped up it will allow pressure to build up and blow out the fill plug. It"s a good idea to check the breather tube periodicly to insure they do not plug up.

I have had dirt dobbers plug up the breather on my tractor.

Thanks, I'll check it this weekend, but I'm pretty sure it's the hoses catching it.