Decision Time

[Mark Bartlett 83]

Well I have stripped down my gifted 312-8.  The wiring harness is a mess, will need to redo or replace, the Kohler has fair compression, cylinder is glazed.  

 

Should I restore or rebuild it into a running working tractor?  In my area I do not think it has much of a market.

 

Opinions?

[oliver2-44 9,684]

The 312-8 is a great worker tractor.  Give it a good cleanup and get it running, 

They are a desirable machine.  Do you have the mower deck for it.

[WHX?? 48,779]

41 minutes ago, Mark Bartlett said:

restore or rebuild it into a running working tractor?

Do you have a sentimental attachment to it? (It happens!) - restore. Do you need a stout worker - clean up & good mechanicals and work it.

[ebinmaine 67,274]

To restore a garden tractor from the ground up as a financial investment is rarely one that comes back with a positive investment.

 

If you want a GREAT worker and you're going to use it for yourself for years to come you kind of can't go wrong when you compare it to the new cheap disposable stuff on the market today. Compare what you have into it now with the $2,000 to $4,000 that you would spend on paper thin sheet metal.

 

As an investment for myself for my own usage I would have no concern whatsoever on spending $3,000 to $5,000 on one of these if I was going to keep it. As resale? Wouldn't even think about it.

 

[Lee1977 6,642]

35 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

To restore a garden tractor from the ground up as a financial investment is rarely one that comes back with a positive investment.

 

If you want a GREAT worker and you're going to use it for yourself for years to come you kind of can't go wrong when you compare it to the new cheap disposable stuff on the market today. Compare what you have into it now with the $2,000 to $4,000 that you would spend on paper thin sheet metal.

 

As an investment for myself for my own usage I would have no concern whatsoever on spending $3,000 to $5,000 on one of these if I was going to keep it. As resale? Wouldn't even think about it.

 

"Paper thin sheet metal". Eric you left out "Plastic" the box store are about haft plastic. Plastic hoods, dash, plastic bushings, some even have a plastic transmission.  JD even used plastic cam shafts a few back, most went out at about 800 hours.

[Pullstart 62,791]

That’ll be a great worker if you need it!  You won’t typically get a return on investment with restoration, but it’s a bunch of fun indeed!

[ebinmaine 67,274]

12 minutes ago, Lee1977 said:

"Paper thin sheet metal". Eric you left out "Plastic" the box store are about haft plastic. Plastic hoods, dash, plastic bushings, some even have a plastic transmission.  JD even used plastic cam shafts a few back, most went out at about 800 hours.

Oh yeah you're right!

 

Transmission too??

Hadn't heard that one yet. Wow. 

 

 

[Lee1977 6,642]

37 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Oh yeah you're right!

 

Transmission too??

Hadn't heard that one yet. Wow. 

 

General Transmission CVT don't know if they are still using them, Some pervious owners call them Junk.

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

Put a little money into the motor and the transmission and you can build around the rest. As long as it's mechanically sound the rest is easy to maintain.

I had a 312 eight and I love that tractor. But unfortunately mine smoked a lot when I got it because I got it cheap.

[CCW 1,292]

I have 312-8 and it is my Clydesdale.  Simply a worker and not a show horse.

[Mark Bartlett 83]

Thanks to all for your input......sort of heading by the way of cleaning it up, hone the cylinder, put a set of rings in it, paint it up somewhat and work it.  I do have a mower deck.  It has some rust to deal with, needs to be taken apart and r&r bearings if need be.  Ironically all the belts on the tractor as well as the deck are in like new condition.

 

The wiring harness is not good nor are all the dang safety switches.  I will probably rewire it with perhaps just the seat and or the brake switch.  

 

 

[ebinmaine 67,274]

52 minutes ago, Mark Bartlett said:

just the seat and or the brake switch

All of our machines are older and don't have safety switches so take this with a grain of salt.

I'd have a PTO safety switch before ANY other.

 

For the time and energy while you're in there I would highly recommend installing all of the safety switches and try to keep the wiring harness as close to original as possible.

 

That's a very popular tractor and plenty of them were made so there is a decent possibility you could get a good used harness complete.

[Bill D 1,907]

Use a wiring diagram for a GT 1642/1142.  Connect the wire for the lights to the accessories terminal on the key switch.  Use  LED headlights.  Simple harness with all the needed safety switches.  Bill

[Lagersolut 648]

As others stated if you need a worker put the money in it and built it . The new stuff esp the big box store stuff is garbage . 

 

The young folks who who bought the house next to mine also bought a used newer JD to mow the acre . He can only mow half the yard the transaxle overheats and it won’t move . Apparently there’s no fix per the YouTube’s and JD . 

 

I had no idea until just recently when I talked to him - all summer he was watching me tug big wagon loads of ground and mulch with the 315 and 416 .... if I was just starting out with one horse I wouldn’t think twice putting 2k in it to have a good worker . 

[pacer 3,168]

Looking at your pix I see what appears a quite good condition tractor ----- battery tray solid (usually rusted half away) Muffler appears good (very rare) top of transmission is clean and appears to have original boot cover (VERY unusual!) Tires good, and that IS one of the more popular models and there were a lot of them so parts availability is good  ...... etc, etc. In other words, that looks like a KEEPER!

 

Wiring is rarely complete, usually safety switch problems are just ripped out or bypassed. After a couple frustrating attempts at repairing wiring, I said 'heck with it' and now just wire up a simple on/off setup.

 

By the way I'm not toooo far away from you - near Shreveport. And, youre right, horses down here are pretty rare and of all the 12-15 I have had/refurbed I found around the $200 ish range --- I'm retired and these are my "Hobby" so when I finish one and can get some 8-1200$ for one after maybe putting  $1500/2000 in I'm happy.

[lynnmor 7,302]

My neighbor came over carrying a broken spring for his make believe John Deere and said he can't buy one.  I looked it up and the only way to get the spring is to buy the "kit" which includes a pulley, belt and hardware for about $100.  The spring is special, just enough difference that everywhere I searched had none that would work.  I keep telling him to buy a real tractor, but price is all that matters.

[Racinbob 11,044]

If you're interested in a NOS wiring harness contact @rednos 

He has a bunch of them and may have one for your horse.