Hi folks -- Kubota ZD1211 zero turn mower use UDT2 hydraulic fluid. About 3 Gallons. Drain plug is on bottom of machine of course. Can't see how to drain 3 gallons out without lifting 1,700lb machine up (and level of course) to get a 5 gallon bucket under there.... so am thinking of pumping it out from the fill port on top. Anyone have any advise (British spelling rules btw) on this matter? Thanks - I know this is somewhat of a silly / self answering question but I can't see how anyone can use the drain plug without a lift with this fairly heavy machine. thanks
Kubota ZD1211 zero turn - transmission fluid extraction silliness
- Thread starter jkahan
- Start date
GreensvilleJay
Well-known member
Equipment
BX23-S,57 A-C D-14,58 A-C D-14, 57 A-C D-14,tiller,cults,Millcreek 25G spreader,
I made a set of 'sectional' wooden ramps from 2by12s for my 7000# forklift decades ago. I drive up,park, then remove center sections of ramp to then EASILY drain the engine oil.
Though not as 'thirsty' as your ride, I use 'kitty litter' containers,only let them get 1/2 full. Easy to push 1/2full one out with an empty. Yes, some slight amount of spillage but better than having a 5 G pail fall over.
Though not as 'thirsty' as your ride, I use 'kitty litter' containers,only let them get 1/2 full. Easy to push 1/2full one out with an empty. Yes, some slight amount of spillage but better than having a 5 G pail fall over.
Can you slide a low profile drain pan under it instead of trying to use a 5 gallon bucket? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075Z6H3X..._csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9odWNfdGhlbWF0aWM&th=1
Or a jack, some ramps, blocks of wood, etc. to get it up for servicing.
Or a jack, some ramps, blocks of wood, etc. to get it up for servicing.
NCL4701
Well-known member
Equipment
L4701, T2290, WC68, grapple, BB1572, Farmi W50R, Howes 500, 16kW IMD gen, WG24
Removing quantities of oil greater than the capacity of available containers that reasonably fit under the machine, I’ve used two methods. One way is to have multiple receptacles, push one out of the way with the next, continue until done, and do a bit of cleanup for minor (hopefully) spillage after. That’s a bit difficult to execute if you don’t have a smooth, hard floor to work on.
My currently preferred method is pump out as much as possible using the fill port for access. If you know how much oil is in the machine and you know the capacity of the container(s) you’re pumping into, you should have a pretty good idea how much oil is left in the machine when you’re done pumping. A short bucket or regular oil drain pan should handle the remainder you get when you pull the drain plug(s).
My currently preferred method is pump out as much as possible using the fill port for access. If you know how much oil is in the machine and you know the capacity of the container(s) you’re pumping into, you should have a pretty good idea how much oil is left in the machine when you’re done pumping. A short bucket or regular oil drain pan should handle the remainder you get when you pull the drain plug(s).
Those disposable aluminum roasting pans are low profile and available everywhere for cheap. I've used them many times for oil changes on low vehicles
whitetiger
Moderator
Staff member
Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
You can only suck out a small percentage of the oil.
Also, there are 3 drain plugs on your machine, one on each axle housing which are easier to get a pan under. Drain them first and you will not need a very large pan underneath.
thanks for the reply- really appreciated. Yes - I discovered this morning that sucking out the transmission fluid is not possible. My model (just the straight ZD1211, not the LH or RH) does not have axle drains (at least according to the manual). I ended up ramping up the back wheels and lifting the front up with my excavator. Got about 2 gallons of UDT out of the transmission. Again, thanks for the info. Always appreciated.
whitetiger
Moderator
Staff member
Equipment
Kubota tech..BX2370, RCK60, B7100HST, RTV900 w plow, Ford 1100 FWA
All ZD1211 units have a drain at the bottom of each rear axle housing.
Part #130 is the final drive drain plug, there is one on each side.
thanks - I had a major senior moment --- apparently, there are ZD1211R, ZD1211L, and ZD1211RL models - and I got these models confused with the nomenclature about the LH and RH axel stuff. Me bad. thanks.
all i ever used when I was doing dealer work, was a fluid evacuator. Wasn't but a few pieces of equipment that it wouldn't work with. Engine oil on the 1211 is no problem, transmission was a little more challenging. Deck gearbox, suck it right out no problem (and a whole lot cleaner than trying to drain it...)
The evacuators you buy hold like 2 gallons. I took the venturi off, and adapted it to a 7 gallon air tank, made my own evacuator which serves me well to this day (it is about 10 years old now, and used daily). If you buy or make one, you WILL find uses for it. I also use mine to change oil in the car and truck, although I have to make sure it's empty before I do the truck (15 quarts). They have a LOT of uses. At work it saves me hours of time, not messing with previously damaged drain plugs and such.
on the 1211 you can suck the majority out of the dipstick hole but you have to use the right tube to fit down in there. Mityvac MV7300, the little tube, fits way down in-but still won't get "all" of it out (tube hits the case and won't go quite to the very bottom). Then you have to drain the side cases separately, no way to suck those out. They don't hold all that much. The majority is in the centre case which you can suck out. Most of it. Then drain the remainder from the bottom.
on the mityvac, the big tube sucks a lot faster but may not fit through the little cavities. I can't remember if it will on the 1211 or not (been too long since I did one).
The evacuators you buy hold like 2 gallons. I took the venturi off, and adapted it to a 7 gallon air tank, made my own evacuator which serves me well to this day (it is about 10 years old now, and used daily). If you buy or make one, you WILL find uses for it. I also use mine to change oil in the car and truck, although I have to make sure it's empty before I do the truck (15 quarts). They have a LOT of uses. At work it saves me hours of time, not messing with previously damaged drain plugs and such.
on the 1211 you can suck the majority out of the dipstick hole but you have to use the right tube to fit down in there. Mityvac MV7300, the little tube, fits way down in-but still won't get "all" of it out (tube hits the case and won't go quite to the very bottom). Then you have to drain the side cases separately, no way to suck those out. They don't hold all that much. The majority is in the centre case which you can suck out. Most of it. Then drain the remainder from the bottom.
on the mityvac, the big tube sucks a lot faster but may not fit through the little cavities. I can't remember if it will on the 1211 or not (been too long since I did one).
Thank you so much for the info -- I was trying to suck out of the fill port. Use the dip stick port? keep other access points closed? For folks like you who do this all the time it becomes a "tie your shoe" type activity -- for me its a once-in-a-blue-moon (400hrs) type thing. Anycase. thanks - really appreciate all the info. Got 4 other pieces of Kubota equipment so this Mityvac seems like a no-brainer.
Last edited: