I am new to Kubota and have a new l3901. Having trouble pulling the engine oil dipstick out. I realize it is in a really tight spot and hard to get to but is there a trick or easier way to pull it out?
oil dipstick
- Thread starter LenPA
- Start date
They are harder to pull when new. After a couple years they get much better. I put a film of oil on the rubber plug at the top end. That helped a bit. Even more help was wearing leather gloves when pulling the stick.
Give it a 1/4 twist before you start pulling.
Will make a big difference as the twist breaks the adhesion of rubber to the block much easier than a straight pull.
Will make a big difference as the twist breaks the adhesion of rubber to the block much easier than a straight pull.
TheOldHokie
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
The engineers should be shot for that design - hidden, hard to reach, and nothing to grasp.
Dan
As others said it will get easier with a little use and time. I'm impressed that you are checking the oil level, so many people do not! It's good to get into the habit of the recommended list of checks. I'm typically not a daily user so I do try to get into that routine each time I use my machines after they have sat for a week or two.
kubotafreak
Well-known member
Equipment
GRAND l6060, L3560, B6100, gr2100, tg 1860, g1800, g1900, g2160
I think it is a trait of the universal nature of the engine. Other than tractors, these engines are placed in confined boxes. Give the short twist like Boakley said works wonders. It should not have been painted, but I'm sure it saved Kubota a few cents using it as a plug when they paint the engine.
I'm thinking about enlarging the tiny cutout in the side panel
to make checking the oil more user friendly. Hard to find the dipstick
or put it back in the way it was designed, practically hidden.
to make checking the oil more user friendly. Hard to find the dipstick
or put it back in the way it was designed, practically hidden.
TheOldHokie
Well-known member
Lifetime Member
Equipment
L3901/LA525, B7200DT/B1630, G2160/RCK60, G2460/RCK60
Yeah Dan, I am thinking this too. If it's un-weldable plastic I may lock a pain of very small pair of vice-grips on that sucker.
bbxlr8
Well-known member
Equipment
L2501 w/R14s, LA525, BH77, SGC0660, CL 5' BB, CL PHD, WG24 + Ford 1210 60" mmm,
Mine was painted & very stiff at first. Definitely want to twist it, then after a few checks I was able to peel the paint layer and it is much better. Film of oil at the seal can't hurt...
kubotafreak
Well-known member
Equipment
GRAND l6060, L3560, B6100, gr2100, tg 1860, g1800, g1900, g2160
Reading this makes me want to dab some orange paint on the dipstick of my L. I probably will next time I'm using orange paint.
leveraddict
Well-known member
Equipment
2017 BX23S 60" LP BoxBlade 54" mower 60" BackBlade EA 12" 1 bottom plow & Forks
Times are changing for sure. I see new grass cutters advertised as no oil change required. WTH???
First thing I did was paint the dipstick orange.
In Colorado….That would be the operator.
The reason dipsticks are so tightly/effectively secured is because tractors operate in VERY DUSTY/DIRTY conditions and a loose dipstick would contribute greatly to engine-oil contamination and wear. I’m man enough to be able to pull/check a dipstick and I like it.
Met with my old buddy of 50 years at Kubota place yesterday. He was remarking about the oil dip stick on his L is very hard to find. Said he should paint it a different color.
I had the dipstick on my Gravely pulled out by some brush once. Luckily, I saw the oil coming out and found the dipstick. After that, I turned it so that the "O" of the handle was up against the engine block.