Oil & Fuel oil dipstick extension

[njjeter]

I have a 3016 shuttle shift and to check the oil I have to remove one side of the engine cowling. Has anyone attempted to build or install some sort of extension for the dipstick tube so you can easily check the oil without removing the cowling?

 

[oldpilgrim]

I'm interested too.

 

[njjeter]

Noticed your patches. I spent from Dec 1967 to Oct 1970 (my early enlistment had started in Oct 1967) in the Army. Also ended as a "speedy 6" working on the Vulcan "Gatling Gun" air defense system. So I spent most of my time at Fort Bliss (a misnomer if there ever was one) in El Paso.
I am hoping some enterprising guy has already solved this dipstick problem. Even the dealer mentioned how grapy a system it was when I bought the tractor. But I still love the tractor.

 

[CCWKen]

It is od they would make it difficult to check the oil. That's the fist thing I do before each use. It's part of the "walk around".

It can't be that hard. Anyone have any pictures of the area and dimensions of the tube? Does the original use a flat or round rod? Many of the long oil/trans rods use a stiff wire with a scale added to the end. Some use a flexible flat rod but these are harder to use if there's more than one turn or angle in the guide tube. I wouldn't try to add extensions. Just replace the entire tube and rod. It's called non-destructive conversion. You can always go back to the original if necessary. And you may need it to index the new rod.

Start by determining how the tube enters the crankcase. Is it press fit or tabbed with a hold-down fastener? Most are just press fit. Next, determine where the handle will be. The rest goes in between.

 

[njjeter]

Thanks, I will check it when I get back home. Didn't know how much trouble it would be to physically replace the tube. The original is a flat "rod" that is only about 6-8 inches long. Figured whatever I replaced it with, I would have to cut and customize the dipstick.

 

[arrow]

I have the same tractor. I do not find I need to remove the cowling to check the dip stick. I seem to be able to curl around the coils in the way and just pluck it out. When it is re-inserted, be sure it is in all the way or else she will spew oil from the dip stick oriface, Don't know if you have ags but they seem to raise the entire tractor making for less contortions.

It might be easier to modify a motorcycle oil level gauge with the proper grommet sizing. This way you'd know at a glance about your oil levels without having to touch a thing.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I have the same tractor. I do not find I need to remove the cowling to check the dip stick. I seem to be able to curl around the coils in the way and just pluck it out. When it is re-inserted, be sure it is in all the way or else she will spew oil from the dip stick oriface, Don't know if you have ags but they seem to raise the entire tractor making for less contortions.

It might be easier to modify a motorcycle oil level gauge with the proper grommet sizing. This way you'd know at a glance about your oil levels without having to touch a thing.

I don't doubt you could pull out the stick with some contortions, but how can you replace it down in that black hole it calls home?

 

[njjeter]

Yeah, finding that hole with the cowling off is bad enough. Thought about putting some white paint on the tube.

 

[arrow]

Yeah, finding that hole with the cowling off is bad enough. Thought about putting some white paint on the tube.

I recall not being able to find it at all when I first got the tractor. I had to look in the manual to get a fix on where it was and still couldn't find it. The whole time my eyes were scanning it but not sending the scans to the brain as the thing was camouflaged . Finally did find it and caused a leak when I did not insert it back far enough. Thought I was spilling hydraulic fluid at the coupling directly below the dip stick. My method is now to simply look at it when I change the oil. All the other times if no spots appear on the garage floor, I just get on and drive it.
I change the oil yearly and this engine appears to use nary a drop.