Underside drain plugs

[Erik B]

Laying under my late B tonight for the first time in a while, I was trying to figure out why there are three drain plugs rearward of the starter housing. I loaned out my manual and parts list, or I might be able to figure this out on my own, and I've used some or all of them to change fluids, but I'm drawing a blank.

There are two male pipe plugs, and one female 3/4 inch plug right under the axle. Seems like I drained the transmission and axle from the 3/4 inch plug, a couple years ago.

 

[retired farmer]

If you are talking about a John Deere Model B, the only ones I remember being under the tractor was one for the engine oil, one under the right side cover where the belt pulley is and one for the transmission oil. Its been a few years since I was under mine but those are all I remember.

 

[Sam Vastano]

With the way the tranny case is made there are 2 for the tranny itself and the 3rd is the engine oil.

 

[Mike M]

The two male ones are the centered one for draining the tranny and the one off set some is where they drilled the hole for the pto shift lever. The large one clear back with a 3/4 female hole is to drain the rear end of the tranny/diff.

 

[Erik B]

Seems like when I last drained the tranny, I just used the large plug, but it sounds like I should have used two of them.

Is there any draining benefit to taking out the third plug where they drilled for the PTO, or doesn't that make any difference?

 

[Mike M]

You have to pull them both to drain it all.

The one under the pto won't drain much as the shaft is in there. If it looks like it is seeping pulling it and putting some sealer on it won't hurt.