Before I waste my time.... 312-A question

[Docwheelhorse 2,682]

Hello All,

I picked up a relatively clean 312-A that has had the carb and fuel pump borrowed, along with needing a battery, throttle and choke cables and a general going through. I have a question about the trans before I start trying to make this thing run..... I have been pushing it around the place and no matter where the hydro lever is or whether the belt tensioner is released or not this thing keeps rolling the pump over. As I push it the fan and drive pulley spin as if they are "in gear"...... I don't recall if this is normal and I don't think the other hydros I have had (both the Eaton 1100's and the Sundstrands) do this. So........ when I get the engine started and drop the tensioner in place is this thing A) going to do nothing because its broke or launch itself out the back of my garage because it is somehow jammed in gear or C) work fine and I just don't know what I'm talking about.

Thanks

Tony

[dobeleo 7]

Hi Tony,

My 1986 312-A does that too when I move it around the garage.

Dan

Shorewood, L

[kpinnc 12,505]

I think most 312-A tractors have the Eaton 700, not the 1100. They aren't supposed to be rolled at all- unlike the 1100 equipped (312-H, 520-H, etc..) tractors. Yeah, makes perfect sense don't it?

Some 700-series pumps have a push-button release on them, but Wheel Horse apparently didn't use any of them. Go figure!

I can't say for sure how the hydro will work for ya Doc, but my 518-H (another -A /-H WH rule breaker) won't move at all unless it's running, and it had a 700 in it when I got it, but I've changed it to an 1100 with hydraulic lift.

I've not had the best of luck with the 700s. It seems most folks who owned them previously knew nothing of the "no ground-engaging attachments" rule that came with them, so they are almost always shot.

I hope you have better luck with yours!

Kevin

[can whlvr 993]

mine is a 1990 312hyrdo with the 1100,when i bought it for 50 bucks i assumed the tranny was bad because it would free roll easy,and the motor was locked up by squirrel nuts,but i got her home got her running and to my disbeleif it moved,and its really strong and powerfull,does yours have the 1100 or the 700,like kevin said you usually cant roll the 700s at all,does it have hydro lift,if so its an 1100 and they do free roll

[Docwheelhorse 2,682]

Hello and thanks for the replies.... It has the Eaton 700 with manual lift (don't all 312A's have the 700 and you had to buy a 312 AUTOMATIC to get the 1100?). Hey Kevin.... a 518H came from the factory with the Onan twin 18 and the Eaton 700????? Wow....

This tractor has only run a 37" deck with bagger and the resevoir under the seat was full of oil.... so maybe this trans will be OK.... I will hotwire the tractor and jury rig the fuel and get it running to see what I have. The engine rolls over but is missing the carb and fuel pump so maybe it had an issue when it was parked.

Tony

[bobert94 38]

My 314A has the eaton 700 also it will move forward if the belt tensioner is disengaged and the motion control lever is put in the forward position. other wise its about impossable to move more than a few inches at a time. ???

[can whlvr 993]

hey doc maybe the 1100eatons were in the tractors denoted with an h as in 312-h,as opposed to 312auto

[kpinnc 12,505]

Hey Kevin.... a 518H came from the factory with the Onan twin 18 and the Eaton 700????? Wow....

Yep, the 516-H and 518-H domestic tractors had the smaller pump. But the European versions had the 1100 and hydraulic lift.

hey doc maybe the 1100eatons were in the tractors denoted with an h as in 312-h,as opposed to 312auto

Also generally correct, but as with all Wheel Horse model "rules", there are always exceptions. The 516-H, 518-H, and 417-A are good examples.

[jay in nc 210]

yes it is my opinion that the eaton 700 is not a good app. in a large tractor, one of my favorites is a 516 with a 1100 upgrade. much better on gas than a 520! my 518 that i mow with mostly seems to be getting week so it will get a 1100 upgrade soon. i didnt know about the no ground engaging rule and i spent a couple of hours dragging my gravel roads with my 4 foot I beam drag & the trans dosent seem as strong. the gear drive tractors do that duty now. jay

[Aussie 98]

Doc

My 312A is easy to push around the shed if I want to move it and it drives fine. I always put the lever in forward if I need to push it because I was told that will avoid trans damage. Mine is a 87 and definately an Eaton 700