John Deere engineering talent-X Series

[danbike]

Well, I know that some of the group members dislike the large garden line, but some of us do feel it does our jobs well.

That being said, I do have to toss a barb at the geniuses at JD and how then engineered the oil drain and filter on the X series with the Kawasaki engines. I doubt that there are too many people who change their own oil who have fingers small enough to get to the drain. Also, the hose to prevent drips into the frame is another better idea that should have been left for Generous Motors, but that's another gripe.

The tractor is great, I'm glad I don't have to change oil again for 50 hours of use.

 

[beenthere]

Not sure what trouble you are having. I've done it twice, no problem that I recall. My 81 year old neighbor has the X485, and he has done it with no muttering (and HE IS a mutterer /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif ).

The tube unfolds to a drain, and I believe a 10mm open end wrench 'opens' the valve to let the oil flow out through the tube. A 'channel lock' pliers grips the filter which is not much more than hand tight.

What have I been missing? Sorry to hear danbike is having trouble with the oil change. Maybe we can be of some help.

 

[danbike]

I'm used to doing oil changes on antique motorcycles. Just put a wrench, whitworth of course, on the drain plug and turn it. I just found it strange that they had to resort to a tube to keep from filling the nooks and crannies of the frame with spilt oil.

Nothing more than that.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

In other words the quest to make it clean and easy is just a bit too complicated. No more drain wahers to replace, heck, no drain plug to drop into the pan or burn your fingers, or roll around in the dirt so you have to clean it to put it back in. Can't even strip or coross thread the thing what a rip.

Then the tray under the filter (mine isn't an X or a gas) that hhas to be wiped off vs letting the oil run down the block/pan.

If you want to pick on engineering,look at the hitch on the MC 519 cart or the earlier 54" decks that had next to zero vloume above the blades on the rear half and insufficient overlap. The deck issue is supposed to be cured in the X series, but I was *** about it back in the lat 90's already...