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I was going to do hydro oil change on my Toro Timecutter Myride 60 inch mower to find a nasty surprise.
There is filler plug on top of transmission, one per each side. I am blessed, I knew well enough to ALWAYS open filler plug before draining any oil.
I found that filler plug is covered by frame flare right dead smack in the middle. Sure, there is service opening in the frame to place socket onto the plug but it's off by at least and inch and plug is UNACCESSIBLE. As in - there's only about 3/4 gap between frame flare and plug, so not socket is possible to slide on, least to say - socket and wrench.
To make things better, plug location is covered by the frame on the side and by some other components towards the middle of the mower. It also had transmission bolt bump right next to it, not allowing any straight tool to be somehow wiggled onto the plug. There is only about several inches gap I can stick my hand in and maybe, maybe some sort of a wrench, shown in picture attached. I could not even place a caliper onto the plug, it's so tight, to measure its size. I managed to wiggle crescent wrench on, at the angle, and it's around 22 or 24 mm head.
Also, there is breather plug next to it, but that I can remove with swivel socket and 3 extensions, yes. I actually tried to pour oil in through that plug hole - no mas. Won't let oil IN.
Any ideas how to get to the plug without dropping transmission, as that's what it starts looking like. I mean, I have been working on cars since 1990, I have good hands and am creative - there is NO access to the plug because of the factory f-up. Pic #3 shows about how much room I have to move a wrench, even if I can get it on somehow.

Hello ukrkoz,

Bad news for the owners of these residential machines is that the oil servicing for the hydrostatic transmissions is considered "lifetime". Most units are built to last 500 (part time) seasonal operational hours or less.

Only (some) expensive commercial units come with an actual spin on oil filter and service capability built in.

Well, bad news is, it does have 2 spin on filters and is supposed to be serviced at 50 hrs, per manual. I'm already at 72. First oil change. Thereafter, it's 300 hrs.

Buy the service/ repair manual. I would speculate there is some special instructions and likely a special tool for this process.

I have manual. It simply says remove plg, remove breather plug, refill to drip. Do air bleeding procedure. I'm pretty sure and it's quite obvious, that service window in the frame is simply off vs plug location. Basically, frame is for a different transmission or transmission is for a different frame.

Does the center of the plug just pop out? The fill is in the top left of the first picture from what I can tell. It has the grooved cut in it for gripping apparently.

Auto Doc's said:

Does the center of the plug just pop out? The fill is in the top left of the first picture from what I can tell. It has the grooved cut in it for gripping apparently.

Click to expand...

That's breather tube, not fill plug. Has spring loaded valve inside. Hole for it will NOT allow oil IN, I tried.
Fill plug, as usual, is a large hex head plug hidden by the frame flare.
Folks, service hole for that plug is in the wrong place. It is ALMOST where it should be, clearly, except that it is not. It's off. And that off is killing everything.
I sent request to Toro, don't expect much though. I'd really hate to have to drop transmission for such piddly job. But it's $7K mower, don't want to iff transmission either.
Red arrow in pic below points at the plug. Cute huh? God damn half inch difference, and I could have done it. With swivel head, most likely, but could access from the top. NOPE. And not even that - I'm reasonable guy, I could slide some box wrench from the side or something. Except that it's all covered by frame or engine from any angle from the side.