CV23S Aftermarket quick release oil drain valve

[Sutty]

Hi Guys

I wonder if you can help me again. I have a 2007 Cub Cadet CC1023RD that is fitted with a Kohler CV23S engine. I have been very remiss in attending to maintenance, but I'm now retired, so I have more time to concern myself with such things and have just performed its first oil and filter change after 460 hours. I know, sorry.

During the procedure I was a little disappointed with the operation of the quick release valve. I could barely operate it, such was the clearance available for fingers, especially when I had the pipe on, and when I came to remove the pipe I pulled the valve right off. Having said that, I was unfamiliar with the proper operation of it, so having pulled it off by mistake I could see that it was meant to turn, pull out, stop, and if pulled harder would come right off. If I'd locked it again before trying to remove my pipe, all would have worked reasonably well, apart from the initial difficulty in getting it to turn.

Regardless though I would like to either install some pipework, and or an aftermarket lever operated valve, or if necessary both, to make it easier for future changes. Do you have any recommended products?

My engine manual shows only a standard drain plug, so I'm thinking it must be a cub cadet adaptation to the engine, and not a kohler product?

Having looked closely at how it fits, I think I'm going to have significant difficulty in even removing it, because there is little clearance above it, and almost no clearance below it, so I can't see how I would even get a tool on to loosen it, without removing the engine. Which incidentally is way more than I'm prepared to do to perform a mod of this type, and probably more than I'm even capable of.

On the other side of the engine there seems to be another more standard drain plug. Same thread spec, 3/8 NPT (INCH), which is how it's described in the manual, and it's much more accessible and can be removed using an allen key. So accessible that I'm unclear as to why the quick release drain wasn't fitted at this side, but I'm sure they must have had their reasons.

Am I better trying to perform any drain modification at this side, and just leaving the existing valve in place?

I was thinking of something like this product but if you ave any better ideas, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Looking at this design, I imagine I would have to extend it with some more pipe first, at the engine side, but again, maybe you have some ideas about a more suitable solution?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

Cheers

Sutty