C-101 OIL DIPSTICK

[ronhatch 406]

   The dipstick in my 10 HP Kohler is the PITA screw in type that required a 5/8 wrench just to check the oil. Is there a reason that Wheel Horse specified  this type of dipstick and can it be changed to a more friendly pull out and push in type?  It has a mechanical fuel pump unlike my 8 HP Kohler that is in my 857. I understand why the 857 needs a screw in dipstick because of the type of fuel pump it has, but I see no reason for the C-101 to have one.

 

Edited July 5, 2016 by ronhatch

[Horse46 519]

My 10HP from a 101 also has the same, but I have the 161 and that has a side mounted type, I can't see how the 101 can be converted, I think the block is different?

I will have a look later as I have no pictures of that part of the motors for immediate reference. That said I have seen the filler pipe and dipstick for sale separately.

Edited July 5, 2016 by Horse46

[WheelHorse79 271]

My Dad bought a leftover '79 C-101 in December of '79.  Our old 854 had the screw in type of dipstick.  However, if I remember correctly, the C-101 had a dipstick tube with a pull type dipstick.  I asked my Dad why this dipstick was different than the 854, and he said that the dealer had "converted it".  I still have that C-101, however, the original block was replaced in 1988 with a 14 HP short block which has the pull type dipstick.  But my memory says that the 10 HP block also had the pull type dipstick.

 

Edited July 5, 2016 by WheelHorse79

[tunahead72 2,546]

My C-105 has the same threaded dipstick as yours.  After I'm done checking the level and (usually) adding a bit of oil, I just thread it back hand tight, with no wrench.  There's no pressure there, so I don't get any leaks, and nine times out of ten I don't need a wrench to remove it and check the oil level the next time I use the tractor.

 

Also keep in mind that you don't need to thread the dipstick in to check the oil level, just let the bottom part of the plug rest on top of the opening into the block.

 

[ronhatch 406]

  My 857 needs to have the screw in type of dipstick because the fuel pump works off the pressure and vacuum in the sealed crankcase caused by the piston moving up and down. Not so with my C-101 fuel pump that has an arm the rides on a lob on the camshaft.

  The screw in dipstick is just unhandy and, to some extent, discourages the checking of the oil level. Tightening the screw in by hand like tunahead72 suggested would make me nervous. I can just imagine it vibrating loose and getting caught in the crank or cam gears.

  I have a  good K241 with an oil tube and slide in dipstick sitting in the corner of my garage that is from a Jacobson. I'll have to check out the base today and see if it's similar to the base on my 1979 C-101 K241.

Edited July 6, 2016 by ronhatch

[tunahead72 2,546]

3 hours ago, ronhatch said:

... The screw in dipstick is just unhandy and, to some extent, discourages the checking of the oil level ...

 

Agreed.  My motivation on this particular engine is that it both leaks and burns some oil, so I check it religiously every time I use it.

 

3 hours ago, ronhatch said:

... Tightening the screw in by hand like tunahead72 suggested would make me nervous. I can just imagine it vibrating loose and getting caught in the crank or cam gears ...

 

That's never happened to me, although I certainly imagine it could.  It tightens down pretty snug just by hand, but if it did start vibrating loose I'd go right back to using a wrench again.  And yes, it is a PITA.

 

[tunahead72 2,546]

ronhatch, I just tried to send you a PM, but it wouldn't send because you're not set up to receive messages.