Oil plug on 5093E oddball

[Lineman North Florida]

Went to do an oil change on my tractor today and when I went to take out the engine oil plug I realized it was square, so I figured 3/8 or 1/2 drive extension would fit it, wrong turns out it's a 10mm female plug, so I strike out in search of a socket not realizing that they are apparently as scarce as hen's teeth but after about my 5th stop I realized I was not going to find one locally. I'm 49 years old and have worked on trucks and tractors my whole life and never needed a special tool to get a drain plug out, what kind of dumb A-- would engineer such? Anyway my rant is over and after looking on the computer I can order one off of Amazon, so just a heads up to anyone with one of these models, an oil change may take a little longer than expected.

 

[Rara Avis]

Went to do an oil change on my tractor today and when I went to take out the engine oil plug I realized it was square, so I figured 3/8 or 1/2 drive extension would fit it, wrong turns out it's a 10mm female plug, so I strike out in search of a socket not realizing that they are apparently as scarce as hen's teeth but after about my 5th stop I realized I was not going to find one locally. I'm 49 years old and have worked on trucks and tractors my whole life and never needed a special tool to get a drain plug out, what kind of dumb A-- would engineer such? Anyway my rant is over and after looking on the computer I can order one off of Amazon, so just a heads up to anyone with one of these models, an oil change may take a little longer than expected.

CTA Tools 237 Square Head Drain Plug Socket - 1-Millimeter - Square Drive Sockets - Amazon.com

 

[Lineman North Florida]

That's it, I actually finally found one locally at Pep Boys for about $6 bucks.

 

[Plantation Paul]

Same reason why manufactures went to torx, and the torx plus with the pin in the middle. To make you buy more tools!

 

[MinnesotaEric]

Point at that socket when friends are around and say, "That's the tool I use to do the thing I do once or twice a year." I have thens-of-thousands invested in those kinds of tools in various tool boxes. The tools I use every day are the inexpensive, common ones.

 

[Rara Avis]

Well, if you had a 4020...you'd get to buy a John Deere Steering Valve Adusting Tool...

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Bought the 10mm male square socket, it did the job on getting the drain plug out so I was able to change the engine oil and filter and I went ahead and changed out the air and fuel filters and outer cab filters and blew the radiator fins out while I was at it, I was however amazed at the lack of grease fittings on this tractor, or they are hid really well.

 

[beenthere]

Should have a couple zerks on the trunnion, a few on the 3 point hitch links, and two on the rear axle bearings..

Are there other places that you think should have them?

 

[bigtiller]

At least it wasn't a Whitworth oil plug. Those tools and hardware are really hard to find.

 

[Plantation Paul]

Well, if you had a 4020...you'd get to buy a John Deere Steering Valve Adusting Tool...

I think a wrench to access the nut that holds the starter on and is behind the starter on the larger 30 and 40 series tractors can be had from JD as well. But I took and old Craftsman wrench, a vice and a torch, bent it around in several different places and made my own.

Should have a couple zerks on the trunnion, a few on the 3 point hitch links, and two on the rear axle bearings..

Are there other places that you think should have them?

Steering bearings and tie rods would be nice.

 

[beenthere]

For a plug wrench, maybe a short length of square stock that fits, and then use an adjustable wrench (crescent) to turn it out and back in.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Should have a couple zerks on the trunnion, a few on the 3 point hitch links, and two on the rear axle bearings..

Are there other places that you think should have them?

I found the 1 on each side for the axle bearings and I found the 3 on the 3 point hitch arms but what I didn't find was any on the ball joints or steering links or whatever you want to call the front end components, it's all sealed, my other tractor has greaseable front end components everywhere, so yeah, I felt like there was other places that I should have found them.

 

[Tx Jim]

Well, if you had a 4020...you'd get to buy a John Deere Steering Valve Adusting Tool...

Except it takes a lot more mechanical ability & knowledge to correctly utilize the 4020 steering valve adjusting tool than it requires to change engine oil.

 

[beenthere]

I found the 1 on each side for the axle bearings and I found the 3 on the 3 point hitch arms but what I didn't find was any on the ball joints or steering links or whatever you want to call the front end components, it's all sealed, my other tractor has greaseable front end components everywhere, so yeah, I felt like there was other places that I should have found them.

There are two on the front axle (called trunnion in operators manual). Key item #7

 

[Lineman North Florida]

There are two on the front axle (called trunnion in operators manual). Key item #7

Thanks, I will check on those tonight when I get home.