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Did my first transmissions fluid / filters change yesterday. Insane. Never got the vent plugs removed. 1/4" seemed to be the size but had a tad of slop. Thought it might be 7mm but didn't have one. Broke three 1/4" allens and stopped with my fourth and last one as it was bending towards breakage. If I can know the correct size (Hydro-Gear tech support person, my dealer and a competing dealer, did not know the size :thumbsup, I'll buy a stubby like those that insert to drivers and put a wrench to it. Only thing else I know to do is hit them with a torch which I really don't want to do near the belt and plastic pulleys. The two filters took close to 5 hours to remove. I went through 7 filter wrenches, two of which were only 2 1/2" diameter. They just wouldn't bite, even with some mods I did to them. Ended up using the filter wrench style that resembles a large set of channel locks. Took forever to fill the 2 trannys due to the burping through the reservoir process. So anyhow, does someone know the correct allen size for the vent plugs? Thank you.

From what I could gleem from the service manual the plug is question is a 1/4 inch allen torqued at 180-240 inch pounds. Under tools required it calls for a 1/4" allen socket.

ILENGINE said:

From what I could gleem from the service manual the plug is question is a 1/4 inch allen torqued at 180-240 inch pounds. Under tools required it calls for a 1/4" allen socket.

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Good deal. Saw the torque values. Must have missed the size. Thank you.

I feel your pain. On several occasions I have had to make an allen or square wrench due to corrosion, over torque by ham fisted operator, or just loose fit. Sometimes you can carefully reduce the next size by careful grinding (not overheat). I have also made them with hardenable steel stock in soft condition. When fit is perfect heat dull to cherry red and hold for couple minutes , then immerse in a little can of engine oil. Finsh grind if bigger after heat treat. Just did this on a Koni shock shaft tip.

motoman said:

I feel your pain. On several occasions I have had to make an allen or square wrench due to corrosion, over torque by ham fisted operator, or just loose fit. Sometimes you can carefully reduce the next size by careful grinding (not overheat). I have also made them with hardenable steel stock in soft condition. When fit is perfect heat dull to cherry red and hold for couple minutes , then immerse in a little can of engine oil. Finsh grind if bigger after heat treat. Just did this on a Koni shock shaft tip.

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That's a good deal. I'm considering making a couple myself. Just can't stand sloppy fits. But goodness, they sure do torques these things down initially. I'm even considering installing vent elbows up through the sheet metal if nothing is in the way. Wonder if someone makes remote filter adapters that size? Do it all from topside. :thumbsup:

Talk about torquing things, what I hate is having to replace the sprocket on a customers chainsaw, and have to heat the clutch, because they used red threadlocker on the crankshaft threads when they installed it at the factory.

ILENGINE said:

Talk about torquing things, what I hate is having to replace the sprocket on a customers chainsaw, and have to heat the clutch, because they used red threadlocker on the crankshaft threads when they installed it at the factory.

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I hear ya. It's usually one extreme or the other.

After researching and finding several positive comments, I ordered and installed Stens filters on the trannys. I immediately noticed prior to installation that the factory filters were noticeably heavier (stouter?) than the the Stens.

Here we go again. I'm ready to do my 400 hr trannies fluid change. Time flies. Mine is old enough to have an hour meter (2013). It has a spit over 600 hrs on it. Oh well. I wicked a little out of the tank and it is "clean" as used motor oil goes. No hint of a burn smell. Very likely will have no luck removing vent plugs. If I do, I'll replace with the hex head version. I see now the newer HG trannies are "sealed" so to speak and require no fluid change unless contaminated. Wonder what's different, bunch of zinc or? Nor even sure the right side tranny vent plug is doable. As I recall, there was a pully right in the way. Thinking about a hex head 1/4" allen cap. Look at my initial post for these trannies, it's been a spit over 10 years since I changed the fluid. Pretty sure I went with 30wt Mobil 1. If I can't remove the plugs, I might just wait for fall. Too damn hot already to spend hrs out in my shop. Thanks guys.

Use impact rated hex bits.

StarTech said:

Use impact rate hex bits.

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Thank you.