John Friel

The problem with the oil drain plug is that the entire plug turns when you push in and turn counter clockwise.  The plug is in a location which can't be reached with a socket wrench ( there is not enough clearance between base of plug and engine frame to fit the socket over the plug end).  As a result,  the drain plug - whether installed at the factory or at the dealer - can only be put in as tight as you can turn it with your finger tips.

After spilling oil all over tractor and yard when the entire plug came out, I put a 3/8'  6" galvanized pipe with end cap into the hole where the oil drain plug had been.  I'll have to keep checking for leaks to ensure that this works - and I'll have to cut a hole in the plastic dash extension that covers the side of the mower for the extension to stick through.

If Husqvarna had just placed the drain plug a quarter of an inch higher, a 15/16 inch deep socket would have allowed the plug assembly to be tightened enough so that the plug's plastic part could possibly have been pushed in and turned without unscrewing the plug itself - even then it's location beneath the starter would have made using the plastic push/turn/pull valve very difficult since you would have to work with fingertips only.  Good mower/dreadful oil drain valve design.

Apparently the dealer who couldn't tighten the drain valve made up for it by *** the oil filter on so tight it took a filter wrench and the crushing of the oil filter to get the filter loosened enough to get it off.