Troy Bilt Pony Oil Change. Craftsman 1000, MTD, and many others are the same.

Time to wrap up work on the Pony I picked up this spring. It's being used as a back up to the Kubota BX I picked up, but is good for getting into the smaller or harder to reach areas of my property.
Since I didn't know the service history of the mower , I went ahead and did all the routine maintenance I could think of.
This unit is also branded as MTD, Craftsman T1000, and many other brands. It is built by MTD for a variety of manufacturers so the process should be the same,

[@JaniceHofmann]

Saw where someone thought about using aluminum foil. Think I learned this from Chris Fix; just double up some heavy duty foil and shape it to fit under the drain and into pan. No leaking. Just ball it up and toss it. Works great.

[@toymakerlarry1955]

Still a nice tractor they started building the Troy Built in Troy NY about 25 miles away i think MTD bought them out , keep her going.

[@tkskagen]

Since you don't have the OEM Oil Drain "Guide", you can Slice a Water/Soda Bottle somewhat in half length-wise to make draining the Oil a "BIT" easier! Thanks Happy Father's Day! Take care, 🤓 -Thomas Western Washington State

[@FarpointFarms]

Great idea with the bottle!

[@gunther955]

@@FarpointFarms Or modify one of those long funnels ya use to put oil in a car . :)

[@leee2818]

I just picked up this same tractor branded as a Bolens. It’s got a bit of a problem shifting speeds and I think it’s the drive belts. It’s an interesting design with the variable speed drive.

[@joem1767]

That spilled oil on the frame is rust protection! I like your solution, my Cub Cadet is a different mower with the same problem.

[@FarpointFarms]

It's very possible that your Cub and my Troy-Bilt were made in the same factory. So many of these riding mowers are now made by MTD it's hard to keep track of them all.

[@joem1767]

@@FarpointFarms I would bet so. A lot of MTD stuff is the same. Your videos on your Troy Bilt made me feel bad for not doing a service on my Cub at the beginning of the mowing season, so I'm getting on it now!

[@ryandilla7857]

Great video! My only issue was it being a square headed plug, I risked the chance of stripping the plug with the socket set. I ended up needing to use a wrench. Thanks for the help!

[@jackwilliams5474]

Not sure why it's square! And I don't see how I could get a wrench in there.

[@Lanninglongarmmowing]

I've added a pipe to some of our mowers. You might want to put a 90 on it and a valve with a plug which really makes for mess free oil changes.

[@FarpointFarms]

That's my plan for the next oil change. Pipe it out to make it drain down.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Will that fit with the steering rod in the way?

[@chrissperry1830]

$7.00 for a 4 inch nipple and elbow. Reuse the plug. Had the same problem with my Husqvarna. Check the diameter of the nipple you need. Either 3/8 or 1/4". Available at most hardware stores in the plumbing section.

[@jackwilliams5474]

I was going to but mine has the stupid steering rod in the way. 4 inches would clash with the rod, I think. OK, that didn't sound right LOL!

[@McmM-cv9sb]

That was great thanks for the tip😅

[@FarpointFarms]

Any time

[@Xavi_Mira]

Would it be okay to put marvel mystery oil when I do an oil change on mine I think I have the exact same one. Also could i run it in the fuel.? Thanks for the awesome content

[@FarpointFarms]

Yes you can! I run MMO in both my oil and gas on this.

[@mrkmh1]

I put a 3" 3/8 galvanized pipe now the oil drain is about an inch past the frame making it supper easy to drain the oil. I ended up putting a ball valve on the end making even a tooless operation.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Can you explain (slowly so a dummy like me can understand LOL), how I would go about that?

[@ADOTlied]

At least you didn't have stupid music playing like all the other vids, thank you.

[@FarpointFarms]

I can't stand that, I only have a few videos that I have music in the entire video, it is usually just showing pictures and I am not talking.

[@mikecoughlin4128]

I just bought one of these and as I’m watching your video I wondered if putting a balloon around a short pipe nipple would catch all the oil, if cool, and not spill any. I’ll try it.

[@FarpointFarms]

A good idea in theory- if you do please let me know how it works.

[@pensacola07]

I have the same mower and I changed my oil last weekend and had a mess. Simple green will get the oil off of your mower, and I used synthetic in mine

[@FarpointFarms]

Thanks for the tips!

[@aabrantes1999]

I gave up doing it that way. I just siphon my oil from the top now using an $10 siphon pump from WalMart. I use 10w-30 synthetic oil.

[@garrickwelsh6793]

They told me sae 30

[@jackwilliams5474]

Any tricks I would need to Know to do that?

[@jackwilliams5474]

@@garrickwelsh6793 Can basically use any oil according to book. They listed like 5 different possible grades.

[@Machi74005]

I wonder if a hand crank syphon would be more effecient and less of a mess..pulling it up through the intake tube?

[@FarpointFarms]

It would have worked, but that method never gets all the oil out and i'm sure leaves more crud in the bottom than a conventional drain.

[@marshallblythe7240]

Nice metal hood there. My 10 year old John Deere has a ****ing plastic hood that is crumbling into shards.

[@joem1767]

I bought a cub cadet in 2003 and the next year they went to plastic hoods. 16 years later my metal hood still looks good save for a few little dents, can't say the same for the newer plastic ones.

[@bpsmith211]

Wonder if a piece of aluminum foil would work to guide oil into pan.

[@billcarey7874]

This was helpful. Thanks.

[@782matt2]

Hi Eric ....... Eric I hope everythings fine. Is there any chance of a review on the Mcinley, i just bought the european version ( E U ). Looking forward to the radio. 73s..........Matt

[@FarpointFarms]

Part 1 and 2 are up, I'm working on part 3 and 4 with the AM/ SSB range tests Should be mid-summer when they are all done.

[@782matt2]

Hi Eric looking forward to them..........73s

[@spresc2180]

Put a 1/4" pipe extension from the engine drain to just behind the far edge and a cap on the end. eezy peezy no fuss oil drain.

[@FarpointFarms]

That's what I will do the next time I do an oil change on this one.

[@jackwilliams5474]

Ya but wouldn't the steering rod be in the way?

[@dustinlane9754]

Why didnt you change the oil filter

[@FarpointFarms]

because on that model there is no oil filter. Some of the base models don't have filters.

[@boxcardonny]

hi i like your videos i have a cb radio i can only get the swr to 2.5 will it burn up my radio

[@FarpointFarms]

It's not good. You can talk for shot bursts, but not for long without damage.

[@TYFI31092]

How much oil does it take. the full 48oz bottle or 44oz sense it doesn’t have a oil filter?

[@FarpointFarms]

It should be listed on the sticker on your hood. Mine was 48oz.

[@drkennethnoisewater7999]

So on these particular tractors, there is no oil filter?

[@FarpointFarms]

There is not, it is a "splash" system- as the mower is running and moving the oil splashes all over to lubricate the engine. That is why long term on hilly terrain is not the greatest for them

[@drkennethnoisewater7999]

@@FarpointFarms cool thank you! I had a 2006 craftsman that I worked on and maintained last summer and I got to know it well and it had an oil filter. When I picked up this old 1996 MTD Yard Machine and started going through it, I couldn't find the damn filter and just wanted to make sure it wasn't hidden somewhere. I appreciate you answering back, you really saved me some heartache.

[@KingKemoSabi]

Please make a video for the carburator. Everything else is now fixable thanks to your video's.

[@FarpointFarms]

I have a video on that, if you search my channel you should be able to find it

[@KingKemoSabi]

@@FarpointFarms cool thank you so much! Going to watch it and save it now for future reference! You definitely have me hooked on these tutorial videos!

[@jball1267]

Do you change the oil filter? If so where is it located? I'm unable to find it on the briggs and stratton engine.

[@FarpointFarms]

This unit has no oil filter.

[@omarsantiago8514]

IS it possible that my 2020 Troy Bilt Pony has the oil drain cap on the opposite side? I noticed your rider has cap on the right side of engine. I looked all over but do not see anything. On the left side I do see a bolt that can be undone. Please let me know.

[@FarpointFarms]

Hmm. Can you email me a photo?

[@colomacountry]

No oil filter on these ponies?

[@FarpointFarms]

Nope!

[@jackwilliams5474]

Not 14 mm on all models. I think mine is 9/16".

[@FarpointFarms]

Good to know!

[@tomclose6643]

got same engine rocker valve gasket leaking any ideas where to get gasket from??

[@AmiiboJuice]

Do these not require an oil replacement tank/filter?

[@jackwilliams5474]

I don't believe so

[@garrickwelsh6793]

What kind of oil do it take

[@FarpointFarms]

30W

[@jackwilliams5474]

Does it take not do it take. And the book states one can pretty much use any oil

[@garrickwelsh6793]

What kind of oil do a 97 take

[@jackwilliams5474]

Does it take not do it take

[@missymalone7292]

Does the pony have an oil filter?

[@FarpointFarms]

They do not have a filter

[@jackwilliams5474]

@@FarpointFarms Good 1 less thing to change. I think they do have Air, fuel filters, so couple of more things to deal with.

[@Machi74005]

I would not be surprised if the mfgr/vendor did not expect anyone to actually change the oil, sadly.......just run it till it locks up, throw it away, and buy another. Sad.

[@FarpointFarms]

That is the world we are living in.

[@johnarcarola5428]

Hi Eric. Thx for the videos. Please put cardboard under your Pony mower to catch the oil, especially since you already know it leaks when doing an oil change. Be environmentally proactive and not reactive. Thx. Kathleen

[@roaddogg5074]

Forgot to change out the oil filter ???

[@FarpointFarms]

This model doesn't have a filter. That's one of the reasons why it's so important to change the oil often.

[@roaddogg5074]

@@FarpointFarms Ok... That's strange... guess companies are cutting corners..

[@xraykadiddlehopper8067]

OLD model. No help on a 2019 or newer model. Different engine. UPDATE HEY TUBERS UPDATE these videos to cover newer models. All these videos shoe 5 year old or older models.

[@jackwilliams5474]

this vid is 3 Years old dude.