Outdoor Power Equipment (Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers, Chain Saws and more) Discussions

My brand new Toro 1028 OXE. I noticed a open end of a pipe. on the right side its open and the left side its closed take a look on the picture

and here its closed

does it belong like that?

That's a casting for an oil filler plug.  For what ever reason they only machined out the one on the other side.  Sometimes they do that.
If it was open to the case and missing the cap you would have oil everywhere if the engine was started.  Take a small screwdriver or anything else that will fit and stick it in the hole.
My guess is that it will only go in maybe 1 1/2" if that far, and then stop.  If it goes in further and has oil in it when you pull it out then you need to call your dealer and or get a cap for it.

They used to drill/thread and cap both holes to facilitate engine positioning.  Depending on where the engine would be situated on a particular piece of equipment, one didn't know where the oil fill hole would be located.  So, by drilling both holes, engine placement is more flexible.  On my machines, both holes are drilled and capped.  If the hole isn't drilled, don't sweat the missing cap.  Use the hole to hold a small flag pole. 

I noticed that some Ariens had the same situation .

JoelKlein wrote:

Sure thing here are the pics of the Right and Left sides of my Toro 1028.

Thanks steve.
Now I have a valid reason to call my dealer and name him "sloppy"
now I'm not sure what else he didn't setup right... now I'm nervus. unless I could ask a pro to come down to me and examine the 1028.
any ideas? (i'm willing to pay for it)
Thanks

JoelKlein wrote:

My dealer is very methodical and while they are pretty slow they do get it right the first time especially considering the pickup and drop off. They didn't flip my side skids when that sidde was clearly worn out but that was minor. I think you just have to wait and see if anything goes wrong. There are too many small things. Chances are the kid doing the oil left the cap off. Or like someone else said maybe they don't have a drain on that side so it doesn't need a cap. It' hard to say.

Things like this is why I went with the local dealer over a place like Home Depot. Locally I don't know any repair guys even in my area, but someone else might.

If that side had a cap and you had oil in the engine it would be easy to tell as the oil would be right up to the top of the whole.  Just make sure the oil is full and you will be fine.  If you had full oil and there was a cap missing you would know as soon as you started the engine.

Here is a quote and picture from someone who was fitting a Honda clone on a snow blower:
"And this is what happens when you forget to replace the oil fill plug after checking the oil level, which is on the opposite side, and then start up the engine."

okay.... What a relief! it appears that this 2011 model IS different. here is a picture of it inside...

can clearly see its not open.

since steve have same model Toro 1028 OXE, and he is showing a picture of it caped. I post some picture of the engine sticker. maybe the 2011 engine was build some were else...






Thanks all for your help!!!

Mine was a 2009 model as you can see from the sticker in my pic. It's not surprising that the engines change over a couple of years or so.

At least you don't have to worry any more.

There was nothing to worry about in the first place.  If that hole was open to the crankcase you would know it as soon as the engine was started.  Even if it hadn't been started.
 Oil would have sloshed out of it every time the blower was moved.   If it was supposed to have a cap.  You would see threads inside the hole.  No oil, no threads it's not a passage into the crankcase.  It's a blank hole.