Envy's 312-8 Service/Repair journal

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

Hey folks, I thought it would be fun to chronicle my 1985 312-8 here on the forum.  Nothing too exciting but figured it would be a good way for me to log my progress and share with others.  I like seeing others projects and work so figure I'd share mine. 

 

so to start, here is what it looked like the day I bought it.  Paid $500 for it with 42" deck as the only implement.  Everything was in working condition: Engine, Trans, Deck, Steering, etc.  Mowed a few strips at the guys house before taking it home.  A little dirty but all in all pretty solid condition that would clean up well.      

 

 

 

 

After a quick wash and rub down

 

 

Next post I'll start listing the maintenance stuff I have done so far...

[oldlineman 1,487]

Very nice from your picture looks like your front tires are towed out a little, may just be the picture. You might want to put a tape measure between back of tires and then front of tires. Front measurement should be slightly shorter about 1/4 in. or so. Very nice though welcome to THE FORM. Bob

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

1 hour ago, oldlineman said:

looks like your front tires are towed out a little, may just be the picture

 

It does and I'll bet it's the camera angle.  I sent some pics of some framing work I had done to a friend and he came back asking if I owned and knew how to use a framing level and plumb bob!  

 

 

Cell phones have notoriously bad lenses on them!     P.S.  That pic above was done with 'panorama' on the phone camera... that wall is straight as can be considering the building is 100 years old!  Sure does look like a turret though!

 

Edited April 22, 2021 by Jeff-C175

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

48 minutes ago, oldlineman said:

Very nice from your picture looks like your front tires are towed out a little, may just be the picture. You might want to put a tape measure between back of tires and then front of tires. Front measurement should be slightly shorter about 1/4 in. or so. Very nice though welcome to THE FORM. Bob

 

They are about the same.  the rear tires are the smaller narrow ones, 22x7.5-12.  they have tubes and are pretty cracked but getting the job done.  I'll probably upgrade to new ones and do 23x8.5-12 at some point.  The fronts are 15x6-6.  Was that the stock size?  Or were they a 5 inch wide tire?  The tractor tracks and drives pretty straight.  I've mowed a baseball practice field with it and don't have any complaints yet. 

[oliver2-44 9,929]

1 hour ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

  I'll probably upgrade to new ones and do 23x8.5-12 at some point.  

Todays tires are undersize compared to the originals.  i would say especially the made in China one, but I just read Carsile are now made in China too.  I have the 23x9.5-12 on my 1985 312-8 and they seem just right. i run a 42" deck with no problem, and could probable fit a 48" deck.

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

14 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Todays tires are undersize compared to the originals.  i would say especially the made in China one, but I just read Carsile are now made in China too.  I have the 23x9.5-12 on my 1985 312-8 and they seem just right. i run a 42" deck with no problem, and could probable fit a 48" deck.

 

Thanks oliver, with the 9.5 wide tires is there room to run chains?

[oliver2-44 9,929]

@OutdoorEnvy I have chains on 23x9.5-12 carslile turf tires on a C-160 and they don't hit. 

I've neve rput chains on the 312-8  

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

So here is the rundown of what I've done to date:

 

Oil change

New spark plug

Rebuilt the carb and new gasket

New fuel lines and filter

Transmission service - I wouldn't be surprised if the gear oil was original, it was very tan and thick, like a caramel latte color and almost drained like syrup.  I drained it and put in a quart of 90w gear oil and quart of trans fluid then drove it for half an hour, drained it again and put in 2 quarts of 80w-90 gear oil.  I'll drain again in a year and see what it looks like.

Replaced trans shift dust-boot cover 

Head Gasket replaced and head cleaned of carbon

New Blades

 

I only took pics of the engine head when I cleaned it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next I think I'm going get some fresh tires on it.  The rears are definitely original.  They have tubes and hold air but they are really dry rotted and one sat for a while flat and has a pretty large crack.  The fronts are really worn and have tubes that look overfilled most of their life as they really bulge out in the middle.  

 

Here's a current pics as it is today

 

 

 

 

 

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

37 minutes ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

here

 

Them headlights a little caddy wompus!  I think she's winking at me!

 

 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

4 minutes ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Them headlights a little caddy wompus!  I think she's winking at me!

 

 

 

LOL!  Yes it is!  The glass ridge part that holds it in place is broke.  It's on the list down the road... My son said it has a lazy eye....

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

1 minute ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

 

LOL!  Yes it is!  The glass ridge part that holds it in place is broke.  It's on the list down the road... My son said it has a lazy eye....

 

Good opportunity to go LED !

[Pullstart 63,205]

20 hours ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

 

LOL!  Yes it is!  The glass ridge part that holds it in place is broke.  It's on the list down the road... My son said it has a lazy eye....

So does my reaction 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

Well I found some 12x7 rims with the right offset locally so put on some new turf tires all around.  I'll save the 12x5 rims for some 6-12 AG tires down the road and have 2 rear sets for whatever the occasion best suits.  So cleaned and then light sanded the rims and painted them all to match.  Tires were Hi-Run 15x6-6 in the front, rears were 23x9.5-12.  Great deal on the rears at Lowe's right now as the rear's were $34.99 and free shipping when I ordered two.

 

 

 

All painted!

 

 

Here are width comparisons.  original tire is a 22x7.5-12 on a 12x5 rim.  The new ones are 23x9.5-12 on a 12x7 rim.

 

 

 

Now all 4 on the tractor

 

 

 

 

 

Overall I really like the stance it has.  Looks like there's plenty of room for chains as well. 

Edited May 7, 2021 by OutdoorEnvy

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

46 minutes ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

really like

 

Me too!  How much air you running?  

[tom2p 2,394]

Envy - I have 4 ply Hi-Runs on the front of my 312 

 

installed them a couple years ago and so far so good 

 

inexpensive - around $40 shipped for the pair - and easy to mount ... they did not arrive folded or 'squished'

 

have Titan rear tires - they look very much like the Hi-Run tire

 

 

 

 

I did run chains on the original Dico rear tires during the winter - no clearance issues I can recall ...  but not sure about the Titan rear tires that are slightly more 'square' in profile 

 

Edited May 7, 2021 by tom2p

[OutdoorEnvy 1,633]

1 hour ago, Jeff-C175 said:

 

Me too!  How much air you running?  

 

14 fronts, 20 rear.

 

 Rears are 24 max.  Do folks run them at max?  Or scale them down low?

[Jeff-C175 7,203]

8 minutes ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

 

14 fronts, 20 rear.

 

 Rears are 24 max.  Do folks run them at max?  Or scale them down low?

 

Oh no...  drop the rears down to like 8-10 ... 12 max.   I run my 23 x 8.50 at 10 .  You'll get a softer ride, less bouncing, and a flatter tread with less ballooning.

 

I wouldn't go more than 12 in the front either.  But they should be a little higher to make steering a tad easier.

 

Just looked at my 175 manual, it recommends 12 and 12 .

 

Edited May 7, 2021 by Jeff-C175