Our JD 316 was my parent's lawn tractor. After Dad passed, Mom used it as did many of the grandkids over the years. About the time she turned 80, she started getting it stuck when mowing the lawn and family got concerned that she or the grandkids might get hurt. So my older brother got her a little L 120 that she could still muscle around if she buried it. About 2 years ago we bought the 316 for $500.
It has been kept outside for 30 years and looks rough but my wife loved the quality cut. We put a Murray seat on it, one of the rubber pull over styles. Wish they still made them seat covers. Late May, 2025, the JD 316 died on a job. Got it home, and saw nothing wrong. The key clicked and then nothing. Battery was good, so figured starter.
The joy of the 316 is having to pull the engine out to get to the starter because it is hidden behind the frame, did this early June. Had the starter bench tested, it was good, mid June. Mower mechanic said, bet it is the starter replay. Around July 4th 2025 I put the starter back on and the engine back in the unit. Got busy and winter arrived first of November.
This year, it rained every weekend in May and June I was busy. About August 1st, I finally got a new starter relay cube. The 6 year old battery was beyond dead so I got a new $189.00 mower battery at Tractor Supply. Put all the body panels back on the naked frame and turned the key. Started. I quickly realized the plastic smell was the headlight plug I forgot to plug in sitting on the muffler. Had a spare plug on a junk mower, so swapped them. Then realized I never put the new starter relay cube in. So, I'm betting the ground on the starter or maybe even battery was loose to start with.
Wife was happy to have JD back in her mowing arsonal after 14 or so months. Friday the mule PTO belt finally broke. Picked up a new belt yesterday and put it on today. Man I struggled getting it on. Test run not good, belt burning smell. Somehow the belt twisted and shredded a little bit....
I had the belt over the belt guide instead of under it. The guide is a 1/4" square steel tab. Wish they had used round stock like most makers. So, once the belt is under the guide it goes on with little effort.
It has been kept outside for 30 years and looks rough but my wife loved the quality cut. We put a Murray seat on it, one of the rubber pull over styles. Wish they still made them seat covers. Late May, 2025, the JD 316 died on a job. Got it home, and saw nothing wrong. The key clicked and then nothing. Battery was good, so figured starter.
The joy of the 316 is having to pull the engine out to get to the starter because it is hidden behind the frame, did this early June. Had the starter bench tested, it was good, mid June. Mower mechanic said, bet it is the starter replay. Around July 4th 2025 I put the starter back on and the engine back in the unit. Got busy and winter arrived first of November.
This year, it rained every weekend in May and June I was busy. About August 1st, I finally got a new starter relay cube. The 6 year old battery was beyond dead so I got a new $189.00 mower battery at Tractor Supply. Put all the body panels back on the naked frame and turned the key. Started. I quickly realized the plastic smell was the headlight plug I forgot to plug in sitting on the muffler. Had a spare plug on a junk mower, so swapped them. Then realized I never put the new starter relay cube in. So, I'm betting the ground on the starter or maybe even battery was loose to start with.
Wife was happy to have JD back in her mowing arsonal after 14 or so months. Friday the mule PTO belt finally broke. Picked up a new belt yesterday and put it on today. Man I struggled getting it on. Test run not good, belt burning smell. Somehow the belt twisted and shredded a little bit....
I had the belt over the belt guide instead of under it. The guide is a 1/4" square steel tab. Wish they had used round stock like most makers. So, once the belt is under the guide it goes on with little effort.
