L185 motor oil drain

[Curbster]

I have a question concerning oil changes on my old L185 DT . It seems that there are two oil drain plugs on the bottom of the oil case, and both drain oil from the case, at least they seem to, and I always remove both of them, though the first plug obviously drains most of the oil. Was this some type of safety feature in case one of the plugs fell out or something? Or just the design of the pan? :confused:

[Service Dept Vic]

Curbster,

Here is some Kubota oil pan trivia!

Very early production Kubota L185DT's (prior to Serial#3659) had an oil pan that had only one sump, offset to the LH side of the pan and made from light tin.

These pans found there way onto a few very early 1976 2WD L185FP and L185TP tractors as well. (FP=built with Farm Tires, TP=built with Turf Tires)

With the L185DT on the drawing board and releasing in 1977 Kubota needed a beefier oil pan for their new 18HP bruiser and iniated a running production change to get the heavier duty oil pan onto the L185DT's.

The heavier pan looks like a "tank" compared to the first offering, and now featured two distinct sumps, one on either side of the driveshaft that passed under it.

Hence the need for two drain plugs!

Did Mr. K. put you up to asking me this question?? Are you guys playing a trick on me or something???

That was an easy one!:D

[Mr. K]

Easy one? I think you are the only person in the world that would know that. Well, me now too and Curbster, so 3 of us now know. :D

[Curbster]

I actually had no idea why there were two drain plugs, but you are right about the pan looking like something you would find on a tank! I have operated machines with baffles in the oil pan, so you could be on some pretty steep grades and the oil pump would still pick up oil instead of having it all flow to the downside of the pan. There are sure a lot of Kubota tractors out here in my neck of the woods. I'm still hoping to find that dusty, unused one that has sat in the garage for twenty years, virtually unused, that the widow wants to sell just to get it out of the garage. LOL :)

[Service Dept Vic]

Curbster, I remember hearing this story a few years ago and with all respect to Vets, this is the story that was relayed to me.

A young man that was recruited and was destined for Vietnam in the fall of 1965.

Prior to shipping out of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, aka, boot camp, he ordered and purchased a new 1966 Corvette from a local dealer in Van Nuys. Now this was the rarest of rare Corvettes!

With the L72-425HP Big Block "Rat" engine, and since it was the first year for the M22 "Rock Crusher" he had to have that Muncie 4 Speed! He ticked off the "N03" fuel tank option on the order sheet, a wise choice for that hungry Quadra-Jet!

This young man wasn't dickin' around!

Loaded to the ass with transistorized ignition, F41 Suspension, H/D brakes Soft Ray glass, AM/FM, tilt, teak and tele, he even bought the seat belt option!

$6536 bucks later, a ride or two around the block, it was parked in the barn on his mom and dads farm when Uncle Sam shipped him out.

In 1967, his mom and dad got the news that he wouldn't be comming home.

His father passed on in 1977, leaving his mother to look after herself and the farm.

In 1995 after a fall on the kitchen floor, she decided to sell the homestead to a land developer, and move into the long-term Extended Care Lodge in the next county.

She would need to sell off a few things she didn't need and couldn't take with her to her small room at the lodge.

She placed an ad in the local newspaper offering up her husbands old pickup, her sons car, and a Fordson Major tractor.

Obvoiusly, the tractor sold right away!

The pickup was still parked in the breezeway where her husband had left it 18 years earlier. It had 4 flats, the paint was faded right out but someone saw past all that, and got a real good deal on a 1969 Ford Ranger F100 pickup.

The car wasn't selling. Frustration was setting in and she had to be off the property! She was starting to think the price was too high so taking pen to paper, she revised the ad, and called it into the newspaper. Surley someone would want this car now!

Anyway, a week or so later it finally did sell and for the full asking price to the first fellow who came along to look at it!!!

Here's what her ad said:

Old 1966 Chev Car, not running for years. $425

Let me know when you come across that "barn find" Kubota, and don't turn around! I'll be right there on your heels!!! :D