Help me find the drain plug

[GreenFocus]

Recently I did an oil change on my old Toro Super Recycler.
[Link]
Few BITOG experts chimed in and criticized my way of doing things, ie tipping the mower to drain the oil.
Here are some pics of the mower underdeck, I want those 'experts' to help me find the drain plug.
Come on eljefino, Quest and Papa Bear, help me out.

[Full Size]

[Full Size]
Also your expert input is needed on why drain plug draining is better than side tipping the mower.
Thanks,
GreenFocus

 

[CarbonSteel]

I have owned a few that had no drain plug. My 2013 Honda power washer has to be tipped to drain the oil--there is no drain plug and I wish there was to make it a cleaner/easier OC experience.

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

That's how I do it. Ignore the peanut gallery..

 

[old1]

I drain most of them out the top, but I believe the drain plug is under the belt guide, which you can get out of the way by removing the one bolt holding it on (nearest the plug) and loosening the other one and then turning it to the side. I have also done this sometimes.

 

[Kira]

Hello, The 35 year old Sensation has a drain plug.

I do our Toro next. I'll tip it if I have to. Kira

 

[PhilsSmallEngine]

There is no drain plug on that engine. Most newer small engines lack that including what appears to be your Briggs 600-700 series looking at the bottom. It states specifically in the manual to warm the engine and then tip it to drain it. I prefer to use a vacuum extractor, but very few people own them.

As long as you don't tip the engine on the carburetor side, there are very few pitfalls here. I do miss setting the mower between 2 benches and pulling the plug though. It was a lot easier than bend down and lift the entire mower on its side.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quite frankly, I didn't read anyone criticizing you, just some great BITOG'rs trying to give you some help.

I take the use of 'experts' as pejorative. Those people you called out I would take their advice over many others in a heartbeat.

 

[Quest]

@ OP:

I have no intentions of critising you (if that's how you perceive it then I apologise).

That being said, however, according to my collection of manuals RE: Toro SuperCycler:

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/171824/Toro-Super-Recycler-20055.html?page=13#manual

Which I believe just like your B&S engine, should belong to the 126T02 series.

and 126T02 series does come with a drain plug (part # 691680).

http://www.briggsandstratton.com/us/en/s...p;ipl_id=147015

If yours doesn't have it, that's ok. I do know that about 1/2 of the B&S motored mowers out there, factory instructions call for tilting the mower dipstick tube to drain the oil, and then using that very same dipstick tube to re-fill.


All the best,

Q.

 

[Quest]

Also: per oldl's advice:

look behind the belt shield or that U-shaped (horse-shoe shaped) backet and see if there's a drain plug @ 11o'clock area? (per your picture provided).

Mine is a 125K02 series (B&S6.75) and here's the drainplug orientation:



I suspect that even if there exists a drainplug on your supercycler, owing to the belts, beltshields, etc. it's still better to drain and fill through dipstick tube, due to the need of extra work/complexity to remove all the other stuff before you can access the drain plug.

Good luck.


Q.

p.s. I didn't say if drain & fill through dipstick tube is superior or inferior, it's just that some most B&S engines that comes with drain plug, I would take on the assumption that draining used oil out of drain plug is the "normal" way of doing things (at least make sense to me from a gravity standpoint)

 

[yvon_la]

If you tip the lawnmower thats when trouble begin ,liquid sloch everywhere in there etc .then it begin to be insanelly hard to start etc .after a while you buy a new one (probably why they make sure drain plug is out of arm way!

 

[AandPDan]

My friend has a Toro and you have to remove that belt guard, two bolts, to get to the drain. You can even see the drain location in your pic, just by the top bolt - it's there.

When you drain it from the sump all the junk that has settled out over the years should come out. If you flip it on its side it may just get caught up inside.

 

[jhellwig]

It is under the belt guard. I can see the edge of it.

 

[dlundblad]

I have always tipped them over like that. IIRC, our Lawnboy with the Tecumseh engine has a drain plug under the deck, but it was recommended not to do it that way per the owners manual. I was 9 years old when dad and I did the first oil change on it so I could be wrong..

I am going to pull the old geezer card and say it hasn't caused any issues yet. I do make sure to run the engine until it runs out of fuel so none leaks through the filler cap. If you are really worried about oil getting to places it shouldn't, get a Mityvac.

 

[RF Overlord]

I've changed the oil every year on my Toro Recycler by tipping it over and I've never had any issue. I usually just start it up after its winter rest and mow the lawn once. I then tip it over while it's still warm and let it drain for a minute or two. Refill with fresh HD30 and back in the shed until next week.

Yeah, I know...I should change the oil BEFORE putting it away for the winter, but really? It's a lawnmower, not my muscle car.

Now you guys have me wondering if I have a drain plug under there somewhere, although it's WAY easier to just tip and dump.

 

[bubbatime]

Yep, like I said in the other thread, covered up by the belt guard or non existent altogether. And no, they should not be removed unless you have to actually change the belt. The bolts thread directly into aluminum and I have had several get stripped or the bolts break off, so better not to temp fate unless you actually have to.

 

[JimPghPA]

Originally Posted By: Quest
Also: per oldl's advice:

look behind the belt shield or that U-shaped (horse-shoe shaped) backet and see if there's a drain plug @ 11o'clock area? (per your picture provided).

Mine is a 125K02 series (B&S6.75) and here's the drainplug orientation:



I suspect that even if there exists a drainplug on your supercycler, owing to the belts, beltshields, etc. it's still better to drain and fill through dipstick tube, due to the need of extra work/complexity to remove all the other stuff before you can access the drain plug.

Good luck.


Q.

p.s. I didn't say if drain & fill through dipstick tube is superior or inferior, it's just that some most B&S engines that comes with drain plug, I would take on the assumption that draining used oil out of drain plug is the "normal" way of doing things (at least make sense to me from a gravity standpoint)


Is that a crack in the metal by the hole to the right, or simply a piece of white thread? And if it is a crack should you keep on using that blade or discard it because of the chance of that crack growing large enough to cause the blade to throw off about 1/4 of the blade some day in the future. You should check it out as see if it is a thread or a crack, and if it is a crack at least keep an eye on it, or better yet replace it before it breaks.

Perhaps some others can comment of the probability of the blade throwing off a piece if it is a crack?

 

[Quest]

Thanks for your observation, Jim.

That thingy is just a piece of grass....no crack(s) on the blade.

It's that very same Craftsman 21" mulcher that I had serviced before, runs extremely well all these years...it's now into it's 8yrs of service.

Q.

 

[dlundblad]

Originally Posted By: RF Overlord

Yeah, I know...I should change the oil BEFORE putting it away for the winter, but really? It's a lawnmower, not my muscle car.


I feel one could make the argument it is best to change the oil in the spring while in use. If oil was to get in places it shouldn't, it would be able to get burned out.. Whereas if it was done before storage, it would sit all winter with oil potentially in places it shouldn't be.