Hiow do you change oil and hydraulic fluid without a mess?

[sixdogs]

You know - I looked at one brand, many years ago and things could have easily changed or the ones I looked at may have only been for cars/trucks. In any case, a good system could save you from the "hot oil up to the armpit" situation and the potential of stripping the threads on these new OEM plastic drain plugs.

Plastic drain plugs? What maker can think that's a good idea?

 

[oosik]

The new, improved OEM plastic fill/drain plugs are just another step forward into the world of modern technology, HA. My 2009 M6040 has a combination of five for the engine oil & hydraulic fluid fill/drain. Fortunately, those for the front diffy, front axel and front axel gear cases are still metal.

I just wonder how much money was saved on my tractor by going from metal to plastic on five plugs. Maybe its just my age showing.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

Plastic drain plugs? What maker can think that's a good idea?

What bean counter can think that's a good idea?



There, does that answer the question for ya? :laughing:

 

[sixdogs]

What bean counter can think that's a good idea?



There, does that answer the question for ya? :laughing:

Kubota has always been so deliberate, cautious and smart. I don't get it and heck, they're out of California so that can't be the problem. I'm going to look under my M7040 in a few minutes and sure hope I see metal.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

They all answer to the stock market, which wants results NOW, and does not care one bit about next year. Some companies hold out longer than others, but they all succumb, eventually.

 

[RichM752]

I hit up the local furniture/appliance store for large cardboard prior to the fluid change.

 

[sixdogs]

Well, I checked and am pleased to report my M7040 has steel drain plugs. All the caps on top of the engine are plastic, however, and I wish they weren't but that part is OK. After thinking this through, I actually would not be totally upset by a plastic drain plug if it was made of the right material and it didn't have to last forever. I bet it would be OK, especially if Kubota thought it through..

 

[ovrszd]

Well, I checked and am pleased to report my M7040 has steel drain plugs. All the caps on top of the engine are plastic, however, and I wish they weren't but that part is OK. After thinking this through, I actually would not be totally upset by a plastic drain plug if it was made of the right material and it didn't have to last forever. I bet it would be OK, especially if Kubota thought it through..

Plastic has came a long ways hasn't it. When I was a kid, 1950s, I bought a plastic pocket comb. The teeth would break off when combing your hair and didn't have a chance in a jeans pocket. Try to break a tooth off a plastic comb now!!!!!

 

[oosik]

Once again I got it a little wrong. Like sixdogs - my DRAIN plugs are steel - the FILL plugs which are on top, are plastic. I had to go out and check. What made me check was I remembered how hot the drain plugs for the engine oil were last year. I don't think they would hold/retain heat so much if they were plastic.

 

[Billrog]

I like to stick a permanent magnet on my wrench to keep the oil plug form ending up in the drain pail like often happened in the past. This wouldn't work to well with plastic. The plastic drain plugs on my RV work well but get rounded off if snugged to tight so Chanel locks come into play.

 

[Soundguy]

A 60g lawn leaf bag makes a huge drop cloth, then just turn it inside out along with things like the filter box, disposable gloves, wrag, etc, and toss.

The leaf bags are usually the largest volume, and cheaper than the extra thick contractor bags.

Get em for pennies a use, think of it as a roll of drop cloths

 

[oosik]

AWW - Billrog, dropping the drain plug "in the soup" is half the fun - NOT. The first year when I did the 50 hour service - I was so pleased with myself for not dropping either of the two engine oil drain plugs into the container of four gallons of motor oil. Then I turned right around and dropped the hydraulic oil drain plug into the tub which eventually contained 15 gallons of hydraulic oil.

 

[sixdogs]

I like to stick a permanent magnet on my wrench to keep the oil plug form ending up in the drain pail like often happened in the past. This wouldn't work to well with plastic. The plastic drain plugs on my RV work well but get rounded off if snugged to tight so Chanel locks come into play.

That's a great idea to put a magnet on a wrench.

 

[arizona98tj]

Any time I come across a big carboard box, I cut the tape seams (for easy flat storage) and put it aside for use during fluid change projects. On the hydrostatic tractor, I use a large plastic storage bin to catch the used fluid.

 

[TomSeller]

The filter, always the filter. That's where I seem to spill the most. I either spill it directly or onto the side of the engine and it drips down later. Only one vehicle has the filter vertical towards the bottom of the engine.