jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I guess Briggs & Stratton is saving money any way it can. Although the generic manual that came with this Craftsman mower shows several possible locations for oil drain plugs, my new mower doesn't have one. All I could do was turn it upside down and drain about 6 oz of oil out. I'll have to get a pump for next year.

catfish252

That's crazy especially considering it's a Craftsman with a B&S engine

catfish252

Is this the one?

http://www.jsonline.com/business/new-briggs--stratton-lawn-mower-engine-never-needs-an-oil-change-b99433283z1-290423731.html

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have two mowers that have oil drain plugs, but the plugs are in locations that just drain onto the mower deck. No clearance to get a funnel or tube in there. So I got a pump to get the oil out. Harbor Freight. Cheap, but it works.

The worst part about oil change tools is storing them between changes. Fortunately I buy case lots of plastic bags to pack vegetables. I just take the largest one and keep the pump and the tubes that go with it in there. If I store funnels on a shelf, the next time I go to use them the oil has picked up so much dust and dirt that it takes 10 minutes to clean it off, so the plastic bag is a real time saver.

I'd be wary of an engine that never needed an oil change. My engines get fairly hard use and I like them to last longer than 3 years. Never changing the oil, even if "Its air intake system is sealed tighter so that dirt doesn't get inside the engine and contaminate the oil". Air intakes do clog up in a dusty environment and filters have to be changed.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

My local mower shop won't work on Craftsman/B&S motors. They are made specifically for Sears and their specifications and some of the parts need to come from Sears. Or so he says, but he does turns down a lot of repairs on them.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Nope, that's not mine. It says it's being introduced in the spring. There's no date on the article, though.

I thought this line was odd. I've always removed the drain plug.

"Walk-behind mowers usually have to be tipped upside down to drain the oil, and then there's the hassle of disposing the used lubricant."

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

You have to wonder about the design of the engines and the equipment they get mounted on. I've yet to see something that had a neat way to drain the oil. It runs out of the side of the engine and all over the body of the equipment.

Years ago, I had a boat with an inboard engine, and I used a pump to change the oil. It went with the boat when I sold it.

Yes, plastic bags - ziplock - come in handy for all sorts of storage.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

I have one mower that's pretty good. It has a valve to drain the oil and the valve is connected to a tube that takes the oil to a location where it can fall freely into a oil collecting pan. My old rototiller has drain plugs but there's no platform underneath them so the oil doesn't run all over. I can just park it over the collecting pan.

The worst oil change job is my old (~'76) JD3020 tractor. The loader has a gusset plate that is right under the drain plug. In fact it's so close that you can't reach the drain plug. You have to remove the gusset plate. That's the easy part. After draining the oil, you have to change the oil filter. That tractor doesn't have a can filter. It has a filter cartridge (just the paper element) so you have to open the filter housing (which has about a pint of oil left in it), take out the old element and put in the new element then close up the filter housing.

I collect about 10 gallons of used oil a year. Our town highway department burns used oil to heat their building. As long as the oil doesn't have water, gasoline, or sludge in it they'll take it. Some garages also burn waste oil for heat. Ask around.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I run my mower to get the oil hot then drain it via the oil fill by turning the mower on its side (when almost out of gas). Seems too get most of the oil out as the new oil is clear the rest of the season.

MtnMan Loc: ID

There is a date. "This spring" is spring 2015.

Honda and Yamaha generators don't have a drain plug yet advise to change oil each year. You need to tip them.

Haven't had a walk behind for a long time but it seems like the claim that you need to tip them too might be right.

http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/how-to-change-the-oil-in-a-push-lawnmower-example-craftsman-murray-briggs-stratton-engines/

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

Craftsman Mowers are the worse mowers in the world. Gave mine away bought a Honda from Home Depot 10 years ago, on the second set of wheels. Starts on first pull every time. Craftsman never knew when it would start.

kensey1957 Loc: Atlanta,Mi.

Honda Makes the Best 4 Stroke Engines Period...Start Nice and Run Forever..

Bultaco Loc: Aiken, SC

Small yard mowers have been without drain plugs for many years. MTD & HOP (AYP) companies make 90% of the mowers they just use different paint jobs and names but all the same mowers. I was a Snapper fan as I still have one I bought is 79 and still running (is on it's 2nd deck and engine) MTD bought them out and now their a piece of junk.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, I found "Jan 32, 2015." Tilting anything to change the oil is ridiculous.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Funny you should say that. I have a pressure washer powered by Honda, and it's hard to start. :D