John Deere 316

[Mr. Peet]

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.

 

[Schroedc]

I've got a 65 JD 110, its b3en crazy fun to find the right parts for it as apparently I own one of the small group where they were changing a bunch of things so some stuff is early, some stuff is late, and you can't rely on the SN to get the correct parts

 

[Mr. Peet]

I've got a 65 JD 110, its b3en crazy fun to find the right parts for it as apparently I own one of the small group where they were changing a bunch of things so some stuff is early, some stuff is late, and you can't rely on the SN to get the correct parts

I follow that, however, once you get the right stuff, I assume the machine works great?

 

[Mr. Peet]

Today changed the oil, oil filter, air filter and fuel filter on the JD 316. The Wheelhorse 416 has the same Onan engine, so did the same for that. The gas filters came smooth shanked, no barbs on the tips. Took the propane torch and heated the ends and made my own barbs. Worked great. The kits came with Laser spark plugs. Never heard of them, so did not use them.

Think I was way over due on servicing on the Wheelhorse. The Napa oil filter was from 2012. However, the JD 316 had some globs of black plop out of the oil drain. I drained the oil into an oil pan, and in turn drained that into a gallon milk jug. I used some 50:1 gas to rinse off and out the pan.

I put a funnel in an old sock, and placed that funnel into another that drained into the home heating oil. Was too lazy to get a step stool to watch how it was going and spilt a bit on the tank and me. Took 20 minutes to clean up my mess, round 1. I'll let it dry over night and readdress it tomorrow if need be.

Moral is, don't cut corners, take time and do it right the first time.... Hope I remember that when I wake up.

 

[Gdurfey]

I've got a 65 JD 110, its b3en crazy fun to find the right parts for it as apparently I own one of the small group where they were changing a bunch of things so some stuff is early, some stuff is late, and you can't rely on the SN to get the correct parts

My dad had a 110 for………30 years…seems it should be longer, but guess not. At the family auction a guy bought it for his granddaughter to ride in parades. He had a big set of John Deere’s. That thing would work, have no idea how they made those things run so powerful and strong. The things we did in our garden, turning plow, cultivator, moving an old boat on a trailer around,,,,,things I’m not sure my modern Kioti with a 3 cylinder diesel could do. And the size of the current mowers like my D130.

You put a smile on my face remembering dad……..