Another free Deere followed me home.

[RED-Z06 2,473]

A customer saw my tractors and asked if i wanted another one he was about to scrap, i said sure.  I picked up this early 1985 318, no deck, but had a 3pt, brinly cultivator, and breaking plow.

 

He said the tractor last ran in 2002, it had a substantial hydraulic leak and the starter had been failing for years, that he wanted it all gone.  I got it home, pulled the fender, tank, cleaned it out, put in new pickups and grommets.  Found the main fluid return hose off the control valve had rubbed a hole on it..easy fix.  Pulled the engine, replaced the starter gear/bendix with one for a Johnson outboard, degreased the engine, painted it, fixed some wiring and an oil leak.. rebuilt the light harness, cleaned the carb, oil change...cleaned the points.  It fired right up, no smoke, 1108hrs.

 

I put my deck on it, mowed about an hour with no problems.  

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 27,378]

[RED-Z06 2,473]

Initially he floated the idea for me to fix it for him but, he wanted to set a hard number at $400, i said i cant put a starter on for $400, and it needed way more than that.

[Handy Don 13,331]

Just now, RED-Z06 said:

Initially he floated the idea for me to fix it for him but, he wanted to set a hard number at $400, i said i cant put a starter on for $400, and it needed way more than that.

Stuck in 20th century pricing, when the 318 was new. 

[JCM 10,011]

And the 18 HP Onan roars to life. In 1989 I priced one at a local dealer. 318 with a 38'' SD deck, $4895. If I could find one worthy of a make over I would by one. A very good friend of mine has a JD  485 ?  /   495 ? 4 wheel drive with a new Original cab and 2 stage blower in mint condition , I told him when your tired of it let me know because it has a good home waiting for it.  Nice tractors.     @RED-Z06

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,544]

The 318 has been considered as the best L&G tractor made.  Deere hit all the high marks with the 318, as well as the 316 Onan, 322, 330 and the 332 tractors.  Fifteen to 20 years ago, used 318s were highly desirable and priced accordingly.  And most are still on the job, mowing, moving snow, plowing fields, tilling, cultivating, etc.  Being the first 318 came out in 1983 and the last one in 1992, prices have come down on these as they're getting a bit old and some owners may not have maintained proper maintenance on them.  The Onan engines, as most here know, are hard to find parts nowadays.  Still, a 318 in good condition, will rule the nest unless someone also had a 332 or a 430.

[ebinmaine 70,527]

10 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

picked up this early 1985 318

 

Nice save there man.  

 

 

10 hours ago, RED-Z06 said:

breaking plow

 

What is this?

[sergeant 310]

32 minutes ago, T-Mo said:

The 318 has been considered as the best L&G tractor made.  Deere hit all the high marks with the 318, as well as the 316 Onan, 322, 330 and the 332 tractors.  Fifteen to 20 years ago, used 318s were highly desirable and priced accordingly.  And most are still on the job, mowing, moving snow, plowing fields, tilling, cultivating, etc.  Being the first 318 came out in 1983 and the last one in 1992, prices have come down on these as they're getting a bit old and some owners may not have maintained proper maintenance on them.  The Onan engines, as most here know, are hard to find parts nowadays.  Still, a 318 in good condition, will rule the nest unless someone also had a 332 or a 430.

I would add the 420 and 322 to That list. You basically got a 20 HP with diff/lock with the 420 or with the 322. You got a Liquid Cooled Gas Yanmar engine. Personally, I am always On the lookout for a JD 420. The Front axle spindles for the 318, the New stock, was depleted In 2008; used or Dealer stock is all that is left. While You can still get the 420 & 430 Front axle spindles from Deere. The first thing I would do with a 420 though is replace the Onan with a Honda or Briggs Kit if it didn't have a replacement kit already.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,544]

1 hour ago, sergeant said:

I would add the 420 and 322 to That list. You basically got a 20 HP with diff/lock with the 420 or with the 322. You got a Liquid Cooled Gas Yanmar engine. Personally, I am always On the lookout for a JD 420. The Front axle spindles for the 318, the New stock, was depleted In 2008; used or Dealer stock is all that is left. While You can still get the 420 & 430 Front axle spindles from Deere. The first thing I would do with a 420 though is replace the Onan with a Honda or Briggs Kit if it didn't have a replacement kit already.

A buddy of mine had a 420 (he may still have it).  He would take it to plow day events, and it matched a 430 in the field, which is hard to do as 430s ruled the day at plowing events.  He also had a 332 with a loader, but I do know he sold that one.

[RED-Z06 2,473]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

Nice save there man.  

 

 

 

What is this?

Another name for a bottom plow, turning plow, moldboard plow, etc.

[RED-Z06 2,473]

1 hour ago, sergeant said:

I would add the 420 and 322 to That list. You basically got a 20 HP with diff/lock with the 420 or with the 322. You got a Liquid Cooled Gas Yanmar engine. Personally, I am always On the lookout for a JD 420. The Front axle spindles for the 318, the New stock, was depleted In 2008; used or Dealer stock is all that is left. While You can still get the 420 & 430 Front axle spindles from Deere. The first thing I would do with a 420 though is replace the Onan with a Honda or Briggs Kit if it didn't have a replacement kit already.

The repowers aren't aging well, and im not sure why.  The Vanguard repowers seem to start using oil and having blowby after a couple hundred hours, the Hondas seem to overheat, and throw rods, the Command repowers don't seem to have these issues.  When my 420 needed an engine i found a real nice used P220 and out it in, so far so good 

[sergeant 310]

6 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

The repowers aren't aging well, and im not sure why.  The Vanguard repowers seem to start using oil and having blowby after a couple hundred hours, the Hondas seem to overheat, and throw rods, the Command repowers don't seem to have these issues.  When my 420 needed an engine i found a real nice used P220 and out it in, so far so good 

One My Local Deere Dealer hasn't had an issue with the Briggs re-powers from SEW and done a Lot of them

[sergeant 310]

59 minutes ago, T-Mo said:

A buddy of mine had a 420 (he may still have it).  He would take it to plow day events, and it matched a 430 in the field, which is hard to do as 430s ruled the day at plowing events.  He also had a 332 with a loader, but I do know he sold that one.

From the Deere 1980ss Models I have always Just prefer the air cooled Gas

[RED-Z06 2,473]

51 minutes ago, sergeant said:

One My Local Deere Dealer hasn't had an issue with the Briggs re-powers from SEW and done a Lot of them

Some definitely hold up, in the big 300/400 group we'll get usually 1 a week thats a couple hundred hours on a repower asking about all the smoke huffing out the breather.  You should be able to find a good deal on one, for most people the repowers sell for less than with a running onan.  

[sergeant 310]

11 minutes ago, RED-Z06 said:

Some definitely hold up, in the big 300/400 group we'll get usually 1 a week thats a couple hundred hours on a repower asking about all the smoke huffing out the breather.  You should be able to find a good deal on one, for most people the repowers sell for less than with a running onan.  

Had the Deere design team gotten its way, The ONAN engine would have left the 300/400 series line Long before the 1990s, even before ONAN said they wouldn't meet the New Environmental Standards for small engines. During 1987, They were looking at other Brands of engines for the 1988 Model year 316, 318 and 420. If it hadn't been for a bean counter who was one of the design engineers During the K series I fiasco The ONAN may have Just stayed a stop gap engine (replacements for the K series I). They had intended even Before the 318 and 420 hit the Market that they would drop ONAN before the end of Production, I wish they had. 

 

The ONAN always had more starting issues in colder weather, compared to a Kohler Engine. The repowers Up North fetch equal to an ONAN sometime; even at a Higher Price today probably because their easier and lest costly to maintain. I almost had a 420 with a repower. I can't remember if it was a Briggs or a Honda, but it was one of the two. 

 

I really wish Toro Hadn't used the ONAN In my 1992 Wheel Horse 416H, or Maybe I found a 312H or a 314H instead.

[RED-Z06 2,473]

Ive had good luck with my Onans, save for the 420 that had a bad valve seat when i bought it.  My first wad my 416-H, '93 model, the thing can sit months and fire right up; its the engine that really made me love Onans.  This 318 makes 4 now, P218, B43, P216, P220.  When we got a foot of snow here in January, i was worried that after 2 days at or below freezing, and being in the high teens, the 318 with the P218 would struggle to start, i was determined to plow snow though...i went out, wiped the snow off it, key on, choke, it turned once and fired right up...i was surprised but, really shouldn't have been.  Ive had way more trouble with my K/M kohler singles but i accept they are getting old and will be ornery.  The Water Cooled Kawasakis though are by far my favorite