308 swap over?

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  Don’t really know what to call this little project…so swap over it is. 
  My 308 might look like a nice rig but it has its issues, the biggest being the lift mechanism is buggered up. Will hold up an attachment for maybe 10 feet before it drops. Even drops with no attachments! Messed with it quite a bit and for me the easier fix is to transplant the Mag 8 onto a new machine. Picked up this roller (312-8) from @Docwheelhorse my neighbor yesterday. 
 Won’t need that fuel tank…definitely don’t want the hood. Now that rear light I really like, that’s staying! 
  How rough on a rig do you have to be to bust the headlight holder thingy . 
  Gonna be slow going as I have some restrictions from a couple small surgeries last Friday…. But I can dismantle and clean up the new machine without busting any stitches 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rjg854 11,361]

Can that headlight bracket be welded back together?  

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

19 minutes ago, rjg854 said:

Can that headlight bracket be welded back together?  

The 312 hood is junk…the hood on the 308 is nice and has the correct decals so it’s moving over with the engine. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

Time for a power wash…

 

[squonk 41,076]

For some reason when WH went to the 300-500 series, I 've seen a ton of issues with the lift. 

[ebinmaine 67,444]

Neat little project Mike. 

Heal well. 

I'll be looking forward to seeing how this goes together.  

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

12 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Neat little project Mike. 

Heal well. 

Thanks!

  Light duty for 2 weeks I was told…that’s gonna to tough to obey 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

17 minutes ago, squonk said:

For some reason when WH went to the 300-500 series, I 've seen a ton of issues with the lift. 

  Agreed! To much thinner sheet metal and

cheaper materials? Like all companies they were probably looking for any where they could save a few pennies. 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

Cleaned up…

 

 

 

 

 

[Lee1977 6,656]

My 312-8 now 316-8 doesn't stay up unless it has some attachment. Just toutch it or hit a bump it it falls down.

Put the grader blade on it hasn't fell down while I ripped the grass out of my drive with the rear mounted pulvizer

Edited September 17, 2023 by Lee1977

[peter lena 8,617]

@Sparky nice looking unit , first thought was the bare frame opportunity to lay in a 5/16  steel fuel line , front to back, inside tuck of frame angle . extend about 6" on each end , cap it off . eliminate rubber fuel line . another thing , on that lift , with dash  plate removed will give you a functional look see on movement , also a good time to eliminate that  sloppy trunnion hook up , how about a HEIM  joint ?  forever solid smooth , get a flow of penetrating oil into the lift handle grip end , make the rust run out , followed with , red aerosol; spray grease , also hit the bronze cross  shaft bushings , that dash strip out is also a great to correct / detail in that sloppy pto lever set up , add washers , super lube .would also washer up the front wheels , grease , remove the sloppy play . super lube those cables , so they move with ease , personally look at that as a gold mine of opportunity . done that many times , correct / enhance everything ,  been there done that , cable wrap wiring , verify as you go , everything can / should move easily , pete

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

9 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Sparky nice looking unit , first thought was the bare frame opportunity to lay in a 5/16  steel fuel line , front to back, inside tuck of frame angle . extend about 6" on each end , cap it off . eliminate rubber fuel line . another thing , on that lift , with dash  plate removed will give you a functional look see on movement , also a good time to eliminate that  sloppy trunnion hook up , how about a HEIM  joint ?  forever solid smooth , get a flow of penetrating oil into the lift handle grip end , make the rust run out , followed with , red aerosol; spray grease , also hit the bronze cross  shaft bushings , that dash strip out is also a great to correct / detail in that sloppy pto lever set up , add washers , super lube .would also washer up the front wheels , grease , remove the sloppy play . super lube those cables , so they move with ease , personally look at that as a gold mine of opportunity . done that many times , correct / enhance everything ,  been there done that , cable wrap wiring , verify as you go , everything can / should move easily , pete

Mag 8 doesn’t use the rear fuel tank, it’s attached to the motor, and for sure I’ll be lubing and greasing the heck outa the new machine before reassembling it. 
 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

Patient and donor….

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  So not only the Mag 8 swaps over to the 312 roller…but all the better parts as well. The 312 has no brake lining and the shifter boot was nearly gone. 
  The same goes for sheet metal and running boards. 
 

 

 

 

  

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  312 hitch was missing both it’s bushing …gotta wonder where stuff that like goes ? 
  But having piles or parts on hand pays off! AND THE HITCH PIN SLID RIGHT OUT . 
  Greased it up and reinstalled.

 

 

 

[kpinnc 12,008]

6 minutes ago, Sparky said:

AND THE HITCH PIN SLID RIGHT OUT 

 

Ya might better pick up a lottery ticket today Mike... 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

54 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Ya might better pick up a lottery ticket today Mike... 

Lol! Yep! 

  Bizarre, this 312 has been sitting out in the weather for probably 6-8 years. I whacked the hitch pin with a dead-blow and it practically shot out the other side 

[kpinnc 12,008]

26 minutes ago, Sparky said:

Lol! Yep! 

 

If you drain the tranny and it's good, you might better RUN get a ticket! 

[Skwerl58 704]

My 414-8 has a crack on the headlight frame also and I use the tractor but I am not hard on it. I may try to have it repaired one day but then what, will it break in another place?

[Docwheelhorse 2,660]

Nice... I bet that 312 never thought it would do anything ever again

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

  Done for the day…one garage bay totally jammed up with WH stuff  ! 
  Guess my car will be outside for awhile.

 

 

[Sparky-(Admin) 21,315]

21 minutes ago, Docwheelhorse said:

Nice... I bet that 312 never thought it would do anything ever again

 If all goes as planned it’ll be out of retirement and pushing snow this winter! 

[Retired Wrencher 5,451]

Nice pick up Mike. That looks like a nice switch over project. Good to have parts. Enjoy the ride.

Edited September 18, 2023 by Retired Wrencher

[peter lena 8,617]

@Sparky  with you on that baseline checkout ,  tried adding a TYE wrap ABOVE the shifter boot , to the metal shifter , after I greased the inside if boot , allowing it to move easily , yet held in place by the wrap . take advantage of the gold mine behind the dash / battery area . lots of easy corrections made there .  like I said , gold mine , verify as you go , rectifier grounding , pto lever ,  flange bearing , made the entire set up , smooth / easy / quiet . plasiic washers at local H/W  store , SUPER LUBE OIL . PETE  

 

[Docwheelhorse 2,660]

22 hours ago, Sparky said:

  312 hitch was missing both it’s bushing …gotta wonder where stuff that like goes ? 
  But having piles or parts on hand pays off! AND THE HITCH PIN SLID RIGHT OUT . 
  Greased it up and reinstalled.

 

 

 

 

 

The power flow bagger system brackets required you to remove bushings and slide the pin through hitch, through one bag arm, through transaxle, through other bag arm and through hitch then put clip on. So somewhere in the past 30 or 40 seasons this 312 had a bagger on a 42 or 48 deck... the bushings are still in the original owners garage and he hasn't a clue what there for!!