Mowing 318 Mower Deck Help Please

Prodirt6000 · Nov 17, 2009

Hey everyone,

We just got a 318 Tractor for free the other day and were trying to figure out how to install the mower deck. Its got the blower on it for the bagger. We dont want the bagger on it, just the mower deck so that it has the side discharge.

Cant seem to figure out how it all goes on there. Anyone show me pictures of theirs how all the belts go and whatnot? I think it is a 1989 or so. I can get the serial number off it if anyone needs it.

Thanks

Wayne_H · Nov 17, 2009

Do you have the "mule" drive unit? That attaches to the front frame of the tractor, and transfers power from the PTO belt pulley on the front of the engine to the deck. It requires a BAB. (Big _ss Belt).

To connect the mower, there are four mechanical connections. Two are locking J bolts that connect to the front of the tractor, and two are clevis devices that are underneath the tractor on the lift arms.

I can get you pics this weekend if you still need them.

Wayne

eepete · Nov 17, 2009

What size mower is it? 50", 48" ? My 1990 came with a 50" with mule drive on the front. There is also a 48" that fits. The 50" had sealed spindle bearings, the 48" had ones you could grease. On the 50", the shields completely covered the deck. On the 48, there's a gap in the middle and holes for greasing it.

Pete

Prodirt6000 · Nov 18, 2009

Must be its a 50 inch. Its got that shield that covers the whole thing deck. And I do remember seeing that big _ss belt. I was just trying to look at it and see how it all works. To me, I would think that you would need some time of 90* system so that the belt from the engine can turn a pulley that is perpendicular to the deck. I do think I have that mule thing though. Oh does that big _ss belt just one whole belt from the engine and gets twisted and turned and goes to the deck?

Pictures would be very helpful!

Thanks

Couple of Achers · Nov 18, 2009

Yes, the BAB goes all the way from the front pulley down through the mule drive and to the pulley on the mower deck. The mule drive is the assembly that makes it possible to turn the belt. It also allows you to set the tension of the drive belt. It mounts to the front frame just below the grill where the snow blower or front blade would mount.
The first picture is what the JD mule drive looks like form the front. It doesn't show the pulley configuration. The second picture shows you how the pulley are position to give you an idea on how the belt gets turned, but it is not a mule dirve unit from a JD.

Addendum: I found the third picture on ebay. This is a JD mule drive that shows the pulley characteristics.

Prodirt6000 · Nov 18, 2009

Oh ok yup thats what its got. So that one belt only drives the mower deck, and then there is another pulley to drive the blower for the grass catcher, right? I'll have to go and try and see if I can hook it up right

Couple of Achers · Nov 18, 2009

Prodirt6000 said:
Oh ok yup thats what its got. So that one belt only drives the mower deck, and then there is another pulley to drive the blower for the grass catcher, right? I'll have to go and try and see if I can hook it up right

You got it. If I remember correctly, the blower belt is a smaller belt that hoooks to a second "stacked" pulley on the spindle for that outside blade.

eepete · Nov 18, 2009

Make sure that when you put the mule drive on, the belt is correctly positioned. On one side (right side), there is a small metal bar and it's too easy to get the belt on the wrong side so it rubs on the bar. By the time you figure it out (about 1 second) the belt is history. On the other side there is part of the spring assembly that can catch the belt. Once it's installed, run your fingers along the bottom of the mule drive to be sure the belt is only on the pulleys.

The weep holes in the deck are a bit too small, and lots of small cut debris quickly fills the belt chamber on top of the deck. So if you wash it or get it wet, you might want to take the shields off and clean it.

Take a picture of the belt path in the deck 1st time you have the covers off. When it breaks, it will save you a few minutes of head scratching ('course maybe that's just me...)

Achers is right on the money. My comments are just what's written on the diploma from the School of Hard Knocks.

Pete

Prodirt6000 · Nov 18, 2009

Hey thanks guys,

I finally got it all together. It took me a while to figure out that front belt. I was out using it today. I also got the bagger on there with the blower. Pretty nice machine. We have a Kubota BX 1500 with a 48in deck and this JD out mows it even maybe! Now time to work on the motor a bit, fine tune it. The engine lobes at half idle.

Oh yeah and one more problem. The lift arms underneath come no wheres close to the holes on the mower deck arms. I need like 6 inches more! I was looking at the cylinder in the back and it looks like the cylinder is not all the way in when I tell it to be. Maybe something jammed so it cant? Maybe relief pressure set too low? So I had to just drive around with the mower deck down the whole time.

Thanks

Couple of Achers · Nov 18, 2009

Prodirt6000 said:
Hey thanks guys,

I finally got it all together. It took me a while to figure out that front belt. I was out using it today. I also got the bagger on there with the blower. Pretty nice machine. We have a Kubota BX 1500 with a 48in deck and this JD out mows it even maybe! Now time to work on the motor a bit, fine tune it. The engine lobes at half idle.

Oh yeah and one more problem. The lift arms underneath come no wheres close to the holes on the mower deck arms. I need like 6 inches more! I was looking at the cylinder in the back and it looks like the cylinder is not all the way in when I tell it to be. Maybe something jammed so it cant? Maybe relief pressure set too low? So I had to just drive around with the mower deck down the whole time.

Thanks

Sorry, I can't help you with the deck arms. It has been too many years since I have owned a 318. MY memory isn't that good anymore. IMHO, it is still one of the best garden tractors John Deere ever built. I do have one suggestion for you, take it for what it is worth. If you don't have one already, then pick yourself up an owners manual for both the 318 and one for the mower deck. They are probably readily available from online sources and maybe even ebay. If all else fails, any dealer should still be able to get you one. That will help you out with most of your question and tell you how to install and adjust things, usually with pictures to boot. Good luck with it.

Prodirt6000 · Nov 18, 2009

Yeah I found out tonight that the guy had the operators manual for the mower deck and the tractor. So I will be having to get them from him. What I do want though is the Service Manual for when things really need to be torn down.

I agree, this is a very nice little tractor. I'm impressed with the features thats on it for being such a little guy.

Wayne_H · Nov 18, 2009

I'll make one suggestion for you, the idler pulley on the deck has a spring on it. I keep a spare on hand. It ALWAYS breaks on a Sunday morning when you can't get a new one... For some reason mine rusts out and breaks every two years....

good luck!

Wayne

eepete · Nov 18, 2009

I get about 4 years on the idler spring. At 13 years, I had to replace all the spindles. Then starting working it too hard, and this year (19 years old) had to replace them again but due to wear and tear on the deck replaced the dec with a 48" one that was for the 300 series circa 1996 or so. Uses the same mule drive. The deck was torn up because I blazed a lot of trails in the woods and it ate too many rocks and stumps. I had to adjust it back into form with a precision corrector (sledge) many times. New place is mostly open, but mowing time for the last 4 years finished off the spindles. Got new machine to mow big areas with, now use the 318 around the house and for the very infrequent snow (pix enclosed) In the picture, I didn't have any weights on the brackets because it was such a light snow.

Here's the 318 with 48" deck. Advise if you want pix of the support mechanisms on the underside.

Pete

mfreund · Nov 18, 2009

Prodirt6000 said:
Hey thanks guys,

I finally got it all together. It took me a while to figure out that front belt. I was out using it today. I also got the bagger on there with the blower. Pretty nice machine. We have a Kubota BX 1500 with a 48in deck and this JD out mows it even maybe! Now time to work on the motor a bit, fine tune it. The engine lobes at half idle.

Oh yeah and one more problem. The lift arms underneath come no wheres close to the holes on the mower deck arms. I need like 6 inches more! I was looking at the cylinder in the back and it looks like the cylinder is not all the way in when I tell it to be. Maybe something jammed so it cant? Maybe relief pressure set too low? So I had to just drive around with the mower deck down the whole time.

Thanks

I remember on my 322 the lift pieces on the tractor rocker over center during the winter (snowblower instead of mmm) Take the arms and rock them 180 degrees, keep working with them and they will go over. The first spring I took off the blower and tried to install the deck I had the same problem

Wish I still had my 322

Prodirt6000 · Nov 19, 2009

mfreund said:
I remember on my 322 the lift pieces on the tractor rocker over center during the winter (snowblower instead of mmm) Take the arms and rock them 180 degrees, keep working with them and they will go over. The first spring I took off the blower and tried to install the deck I had the same problem Wish I still had my 322

Can you explain that a bit more? Your talking about my clearance problem right? How I can get the lift arms to reach the mower deck arms

And pete, if you have pictures about it that would be great too.

Thanks

mfreund · Nov 19, 2009

I don't own the tractor so pictures are out of the question. It has been a few years so here goes. There is a lift link with bolt treads on it that hooks to the mower deck. You need to turn the lift link 90 degrees to get it to atttach to the tractor. This is the piece the lift link attaches to that rocks over. If it is toward the rear of the tractor it needs to be in front of the pivot point. Or vice versa. The piece on the tractor "rocks" over center. If that piece was at 3 o'clock position on the tractor it needs to rock back over to 9 o'clock position. When it is in the proper position the lift links will be long enough. You need to do both sides.

One more thing to check the nut on the lift cylinder (on the rear of the tractor) needs to be unscrewed. That is how you set the length of grass left after you cut the grass. This will cause the deck to be let down.

The hydraulic circuit that lifts the deck also is the same circuit that raises the front blade or snowblower.

Prodirt6000 · Nov 19, 2009

Oh so maybe just that nut is turned too far in? I did notice that the nut was pretty far in towards the cylinder, but didnt think anything of it. Maybe its as simple fix as that. If not, I will try what you said.

Thanks

eepete · Nov 20, 2009

Here are some pix of the 318 mounting mechanisms.

There's a shot of the adjustable lift on the right side of the tractor. This levels the deck. The other side is a flat bar, no adjustment.

There's a shot of the 50" mower deck without the blower. Only the center spindle has dual pulleys on it. You can also see the rusty idler spring. The idler pulley has a nylon spacer you need to check every year. Buy a spare spring and belt now. Buy a spare mule drive belt now.

There's a shot of the mounting mechanism for the lift post. This is the one you put on by tilting it on at a 3:00 position, then sliding it down to 6:00 where it stays and lifts the deck. Do it the 1st time lying on the floor mumbling to yourself, then you can do it blind from there on out.

There is a picture of the height adjustment at the rear of the tractor. The cylinder is just below this. The nut adjust the height. If you use any front attachments (like the snow plow) this cylinder also moves with the side to side lever.

Pete

Prodirt6000 · Nov 20, 2009

Thanks for the pictures

It will be a few days till I can get out there and look at the 318 now, I just had to get surgery yesterday so I'm laid up for a bit

Id much rather be working on that then sitting around in the house!!

Barry Bowen · Nov 21, 2009

Take the model number from the mower deck and go to the JD parts web site, and you should be able to see the pattern that belt goes in. Do not look up 318 tractor as it will not show the mower. You NEED the model number from the mower! It is really wierd the way it runs through there. The spring loaded tensioner will only be in the slack part of the belt. Power enters the deck on the center spindle and goes out from there. After you get it on once, take a marker and outline it on the deck so when it breaks, which it will, you can put it on easily. Only get JD belts, they like to make odd sizes so nothing generic will fit and work at all. Keep a spare deck belt around you will need it at the worst possible time.

Just saw picture on the post, belt comes off of the right side of the center pulley, comes back around the tensioner, and the goes out the the right blade, comes all the way across the back to the left blade, at back to the center blade. As you turn it the only part that is not transmitting power is the loop around the idler. Make sure it is as tight as you can make it, or it will slip.