Draining oil on 108 with mower deck

[ToddW]

I know the first answer will be take the deck off to make it easy to drain the oil into a waste container.

I have found taking the deck off is simple and easy, but putting it back on is a pain in the

Any tips tricks for leaving the deck on and oil change?

I was thinking about a 90 degree pipe thread elbow and extension from the oil drain plug. Wonder if this has been done with success

[bvillecadet]

I just did mine the other day. I used a plastic ice cream tub (we get the large tubs at Walmart) cut a notch in it so it would fit in between the frame and deck and drained it into that. Worked great. Saved it for the next time.

[jbrewer]

I cut up a plastic coke bottle as a drain diverter for my 123. Spend 5 min with a razor knife and a plastic bottle and you'll end up with a 0$ solution.

John

[cdlong]

I use a retangular plastic paint/ mud tray. Trim one end to fit under engine and cut a hole in the other end to drsin into waste oil container.

[steveyrock]

I suck the oil out with a kerosene hand pump in the dipstick hole but every other time I remove the deck to sharpen the blades and do a proper oil change.

I don't recommend this method to someone who lets their oil get black with just a seasonal change. I do mine every 10 hours of operation but do a complete drain every 20 hours.

Lowes 5 bucks

[drglinski]

When I've done it I've used a gallon milk jug with the top cut off, wedged in between the wheel/mower deck, then used a 3X8 or so piece of cardboard bent down the center as a chute. Has yet to fail me, and is much easier than removing the deck.

[Matt G.]

The deck is quick to put back on...if it's not, you're doing something wrong, or part of the deck or carriage is bent or something. Raise the carriage all the way up, slide it under from one side, then put the lift down as far as you can, slide the front part over the hooks in the carriage, then lift up on one back corner, engage the latch, then do the same for the other, and reinstall the belt.

[drglinski]

Originally Posted by Matt G.

The deck is quick to put back on...if it's not, you're doing something wrong, or part of the deck or carriage is bent or something. Raise the carriage all the way up, slide it under from one side, then put the lift down as far as you can, slide the front part over the hooks in the carriage, then lift up on one back corner, engage the latch, then do the same for the other, and reinstall the belt.

That's still not as easy as making a chute out of a piece of cardboard and not bothering with taking the deck off.

On the other hand....


taking the deck off will allow you to get under it and clean it out more often.

[IACubCadet]

An empty antifreeze jug with the side cut out works great too, just lower the deck all the way down, slip it under the drain plug, pull out, and dump the oil into your used oil containeras if you were pouring antifreeze! Ive done 75+ Cub oil changes this way...works great.