Cutting larger hole in Budbuilt skids (oil drain)

The oil drain hole for my BudBuilt is entirely too small (about 1.5"). Well I went to change my oil Saturday and apparently the skids are positioned a little too far forward last time I put them on, so the oil draining out was hitting the edge of the oil drain hole and allowing it to flood all over the place, all over the skid and all over the pavement. A huge mess... I had to go to the Walgreens and get kitty litter and ended up using the entire container.

Anyways, I got a hole saw at Lowe's, its one of those Lenox "Bi-Metal' hole saws. I got the 2.5" hole saw and was wondering if any of you guys had tips for cutting the skids. I'm guessing I will need a cutting fluid. Will 5w-30 oil work as a cutting fluid?

Thanks!

 

No, there is a product machinists use called, appropriately, 'cutting oil' . I always use it when drilling holes. Facilitates cutting as well as cooling.

 

Yes, motor oil will suffice as cutting oil for one hole. Sure if your going to be doing a lot of fab work true cutting oil might be best, but motor oil will work.

No matter what you use, use a lot of it. A steady stream/trickle onto the cutting surface.

 

I would use a variable speed drill motor.
Slow speed will help save the teeth during the process.
If the skid plate is off the truck place a smaller hole saw inside the bigger one that will fit inside the original hole to keep it centered.
Slow and steady is your friend.

 

I think you mean for him to first put a hole saw that is the same size as the existing hole (1 1/2") on the collet, then put the
2 1/2" saw (or even 3") on the collet and lock them both down. I've never tried that before, but if it works, I like it!

Good thinking!

 

I put the big hole saw on first and then thread on the smaller one if you have enough threads left.
I would not bother with any cutting fluid, if you hold good pressure on it and go slow speed you should be fine.
I have drilled a crapload of holes in my time.

 

Yeah I'm just gonna take an angle grinder to this bitch and cut a square.

 

I support the idea of cutting a round hole.

What I would do, and have done in the past when needing to enlarge a hole w/ holesaw:
Track down a scrap piece of 3/4" lumber that's a little wider than your desired hole size (say, 5"). Ideally a hardwood, if not, consider 3/4" ply.

Cut the lumber to size so that you can clamp the lumber to the skid, or whatever material you may need to drill the hole in.

(before clamping) Drill your larger hole in the lumber, this is your guide.

Clamp lumber securely to skid with guide hole centered over the original hole as you desire.

Drill the hole w/ hole saw. Traditionally (as we all know here) your 1/4" bit in the center of the hole saw is guide for the whole arrangement, but if you're enlarging an already formed hole, you need some way to keep the saw stable and centered. I've used this method often with great success. If you're drilling through 3/16"+ material, I would definitely use some kind of oil, it'll prolong the life of your saw or bit, reduce the stress on the drill, reduce the heat buildup, etc. You can pretty much use whatever oil you have (not DOT!) sitting around if you're just doing a couple of holes.

 

Seems like it would just be easier to install a Fumoto drain valve. Then you do not need to enlarge the hole.
http://www.fumotousa.com/parts.php?partname=F103S&partnumber=41

 

I agree with this. ^^^

There is a good reason why Bud did not make those holes bigger. It will be much easier to catch on something with the larger opening and when you do, it will really mangle or possible tear the skid. And the larger opening only tends to weaken the structural integrity of the skid.

My $0.02

 

Take it off make a plate that bolts to welded nuts on the top of the skid plate .

You could even counter sink the bolt heads so they don`t get beat up.

Time for oil change remove the plate .

Replace with new hardware if it is to beat up

 

Yeah, I know what y'all mean. Though I have seen some other people making skids with really big holes for the oil drain. I ended up cutting a square. If it fucks me up on the trail, I'll just have to get a new skid or have a plate welded over it and start over.