How to drain oil on B&S 725EX engine?

[Dan400Man]

I have a TroyBilt TB280 ES with a B&S 725EX engine (model 128M05-0012-F1). Just for a sanity check, can anyone confirm that there is *NOT* a drain plug on the bottom of this engine, even though the operator's manual suggests that there is? From under the deck, I've removed the blade and the plastic guard to get full access to the bottom of the engine. There are three bolts that secure the engine to the deck. There are two smaller bolts underneath, but they are way too small for a drain plug hole.

So do I understand that the only way to drain the oil from this engine is through the oil filler tube? If yes, do you tip it on its side or do you use the handy-dandy oil pump for only $31.45? I have a hand pump that I bought for automotive use and I tried it on this mower, but I think the tube is too wide to get to the bottom of the mower's oil reservoir. It feels like I'm hitting something spongey.

(Is this the trend now? This is the first mower I've owned where there does not appear to be a drain plug on the bottom of the engine.)

 

[ILENGINE]

The trend of no drain plug started over 20 years ago. with some of the mowers not having access to the drain plug due to deck design. And with self propel like the current models you can't access the drain plug without disassembly of the underside like in your case. The oil is drained by tipping the mower on its side and draining out the dipstick tube.

 

[ILENGINE]

The trend of no drain plug started over 20 years ago. with some of the mowers not having access to the drain plug due to deck design. And with self propel like the current models you can't access the drain plug without disassembly of the underside like in your case. The oil is drained by tipping the mower on its side and draining out the dipstick tube.

 

[StarTech]

Pull you can look to see if you can see where it would be if present. As note some of these engine never were drilled and tap for a drain. Either you tip the engine to drain or use a pneumatic oil extractor. Plus I have had to install engines were the drain wasn't accessible myself.

 

[Dan400Man]

Thanks for the replies!
My previous mower was from the 90s, so I guess that explains me not noticing the trend!
Is "hydrolocking" a thing? A few youtube videos mentioned this. Nothing in the operator's manual about it.
The operator's manual does say "When you drain the oil from the top oil fill tube, keep the spark plug end of the engine up." Does tipping the mower on its side satisfy this requirement when the spark plug is in the front of the engine?