5020 clutch housing

the clutch went out on my 5020 a couple of years ago, and it became one of those projects I never got to.  finally brought it in the other night to start the project.  tractor has been sitting outside.  On the left side of the clutch housing is a large inspection hole.  Discovered that the housing was filled with water.  Checked the parts book, it doesn't show a plug or anything for this hole.  I had never worried much about it, figured any water that got in would run out the bottom, but there doesn't seem to be any opening in the bottom of the housing.  so, couple of questions......do any other 5020 owners have a plug in this hole?......and what would be wrong with adding a drain hole to the bottom of the housing when i have it apart??  you can see the hole in the pic below.

Just checked, mine don't gots it either

A quick look at the Parts book shows that they didn't add the famous vibrating cotter key
to the early tractors, I's sure be adding one before putting it back together!!!

from the parts book -

15

70918455

1

PIN, cotter, 5/32 x 1 (21 HP eff. S/N 5020-2221; 26 HP eff. S/N 5030-1805)

Alan, almost every tractor manufacturer always drilled a hole in the bottom of the clutch housing and then  put a cotter pin in the hole with a loose fit after bending so that the vibrations and movement of it would keep the hole open so any oil that leaked out of the engine or the transmission would drip out instead of filling the housing and soaking the clutch disc. In your case, I would add the hole to the case and then find me a rubber expanding plug to fill the hole you have on the side to prevent water from entering the housing again. 

You are right Alan.....It's pretty ugly....LOL

Add hole to bottom and plug the side hole! In japan they run in rice paddies in water up to foot boards and such. Most compacts had a drain plug in bottom. Agree with changing seals and brgs also!

Joe thanks....i was pretty much planning on adding a hole and a plug, but i wouldn't have thought of the cotter pin to help keep it open and deter the mud daubers. 

Mine is SN.1587, one of the first off the boat. The clutch actuator arm that sticks out the side is different than mine, looks a little "improvised" compared to mine.

Ours are solid in that spot on the housing.

Good day to you! I realize this is an old thread and I'm a very late comer, however, I've just purchased a 5020, from a neighbor - that's had it sitting for a few years, and it appears to have a slipping clutch. It's functioning as a rear-wheel-drive tractor now, due to lack of available parts, and this is acceptable, for now; it cost me $400.
I had the idea, yesterday, to ask someone that's replaced a clutch in my model, before undertaking the task myself. The AC repair manual describes a very straightforward process which seems a little too simple. I'd like to get a clearer picture of the task involved before undertaking it, which I will schedule for this Winter. So, please let me know if you're interested in chatting about this.
Thank you! Michael, Eugene, Or.

Thanks for the encouragement. I've done a lot of automotive and other mechanics, it's just that this is a new type of beast for me. I may contact you, in the future - when the job gets underway, if I run into any snags that don't make sense - which probably won't happen. Thanks again for the encouragement.
Sincerely: Michael Neukirchen, Eugene, Or.