BufordBoone
Platinum Member
Brand new Kubota Zero Turn mower. Manual and dealer said to change the oil after the first 8 hours.
This model has a plastic oil drain plug that "makes it very easy".
I did as instructed and thought everything was fine. Next week, I've got a puddle of oil under the mower. Thinking I did something wrong, I tighten the oil drain plug, again. Another leak.
I finally take it to the dealer and the Service Manager immediately tells me the drain plug is defective. They have seen it before. Will be covered but probably won't be able to get to it for 6 or 7 days due to how busy they are.
It is leaking where the collar meets the engine. Turning the hex nut on the end will turn the whole plug until the drain contacts the steel below, then it will back out and allow oil to drain.
Replacement requires removing the engine.
I don't blame Kubota, this is a Kawasaki engine. However, a bit of forward thinking and a removable plate could have been put in so that the whole engine didn't have to be removed when this happened.
If you experience similar, don't wast time diagnosing. Take it in and have them replace it or cut that drain plug off so you can unscrew it and replace it with something like a drainzit hose.
This model has a plastic oil drain plug that "makes it very easy".
I did as instructed and thought everything was fine. Next week, I've got a puddle of oil under the mower. Thinking I did something wrong, I tighten the oil drain plug, again. Another leak.
I finally take it to the dealer and the Service Manager immediately tells me the drain plug is defective. They have seen it before. Will be covered but probably won't be able to get to it for 6 or 7 days due to how busy they are.
It is leaking where the collar meets the engine. Turning the hex nut on the end will turn the whole plug until the drain contacts the steel below, then it will back out and allow oil to drain.
Replacement requires removing the engine.
I don't blame Kubota, this is a Kawasaki engine. However, a bit of forward thinking and a removable plate could have been put in so that the whole engine didn't have to be removed when this happened.
If you experience similar, don't wast time diagnosing. Take it in and have them replace it or cut that drain plug off so you can unscrew it and replace it with something like a drainzit hose.
