Oil & Fuel Reading Hydro Filter Innards?

[Baby Grand]

Does anybody out there make magnetic drain plugs that will fit the tractors? Got them on my BMW motorcycle trannies, and they always tell a tale. Usually just some nondescript fuzzy stuff sticking to it. If you get slivers or chunks you know you have trouble brewing.

They are very easy to make. Go to Radio Shack or your prefered purveyor of finer magnetic wares and get a few 3/16" or 1/4" diameter magnets about 1/2 inch long. Select a drill bit that's line-on-line or just under and drill into the bottom of your drain plug. Use a bench vise to press the magnet into the plug. Or you can drill a tad oversize for a loose fit and secure the magnert with Duro 2 part epoxy. That's how my 1971 SAAB 99 g-box plug came from Trollhatten.

I have used both methods & prefer the epoxy way. Every new (to me) car I get receives this treatment both in the engine and transmission plugs. It transforms an otherwise routine oil change into a diagnostic event. If you like that sort of thing.

-Jim

 

[Denwa]

Dennis...
Should work... but coffee filters are S L O W in passing oil... KennyV

KV,
OK. What would be the best option for this job? Would need to be something that did not dissolve into the oil and would catch the fines. I was thinking of those shammy towel things that are likely made of poly-pro.

Dennis

 

[KennyV]

If you know someone in the restaurant business, get a firer oil filter ... they are perfect for this, they look like a giant coffee filter ... KennyV

 

[Denwa]

If you know someone in the restaurant business, get a firer oil filter ... they are perfect for this, they look like a giant coffee filter ... KennyV

KV,

Perfect! Off to the restaurant supply house. That and a big funnel and a colander to keep the filter off a hard surface and flowing.

Thanks,
Dennis

 

[Denwa]

They are very easy to make....<snip> It transforms an otherwise routine oil change into a diagnostic event. If you like that sort of thing.

-Jim

Jim,
I will do that for sure. Easy do it yourself and no shipping charges.
And, I *KNEW* I should have gotten that drill press vice when I was at Harbor
Freight last Saturday. Dangit! No I have to go back again.....

Thanks for the simple and great idea,
Dennis

 

[Baby Grand]

Dennis,

Glad to be of help! Now your next oil change will be an event you can look forward to.

About the filters - when I did my 50 hr service I dumped the hyd oil into a big Rubbermaid tub, trolled it with a magnet & got bupkus. It was almost colorless & clear as water and had no burned odor at all, so there was no way I was going to replace it. I ran it through a very tight weave, clean cloth stretched over a funnel set in the tranny fill hole. It helps if you wash & dry the underside of your gearbox before draining to get all the non-magnetic dust & stuff off. Lifting & pouring was awkward, but it went off with out a hitch. Wish I had thought of food sevice filters - thanks, Kenny for that idea.

Jim