[Cam8n]

Hey all! New here and just had a couple questions for the veterans

Just had a jd 317 given to me from my father inlaw its been sitting a long time couple years atleast, it was given to him and sat a long time before he got it aswell. Anyways I put in a new battery and plugs just to see what would happen and it started right up and seems great! didnt even have to adjust the carb and although it was alittle smokey at first it cleared right up and now theres none. So my question is, do i need to do anything special to this engine to make it last? I have read they are bad engines with lots of problems? Just wanted to run that by you guys. I'm planning on draining all the old oil out of it this weekend and give the tractor a good cleaning. thanks for any advice.........oh i need a new gas cap and tail light, any good places to look?

 

[jasbro2]

Cam,

Welcome to the forum! I would suggest eBay or Deere for the parts. I too have just acquired a 317 series 1 but it already had a blown engine. It now has a series 2 replacement engine. I have heard to limit running it laterally across a hill as this causes the oil to pool and starve the rods because it is a splash system and has no pressure oil delivery. Just keep it full and keep it changed and good luck.

Jim

 

[vinnie110]

I got a gas cap and tail lights for my 317 from my local JD dealer no problems. I check the oil each time I use the tractor, run Castrol 30 wt oil.

 

[mkos1980]

Ditto to the above. Straight Grade 30, no hills, and keep it on full at all times.

 

[mickstan]

Pull the engine, pull the engine sheetmetal, clean it up. Heat destroys these engines. Wash and degrease the hydro. Check the driveshaft. An out-of-balance or worn driveshaft will ruin an engine quick. A little bit of work, but cheap insurance and you'll be better able to see any issues. And a clean tractor is a happy tractor!(and easier to work on). I've got 2 317's, and they are good machines. Just keep it off of slopes, as said before. They like flat ground!

 

[mrmondo]

Agree with Jeff about getting it good and clean and checking the drive shaft. My Dad's 317 (the early engine) has never had any problems and it has mowed a few slopes in its day at the old place. We used the old Jacobson with a 7 horse Kohler most of the time for the long slope. It didn't sit as tall as the 317 so wasn't as top heavy. We always kept the oil level full, no sitting in the safe level area for him, so check it each time you use it. He had it figured out just how much to put in no matter how little it needed. A Deere mechanic told him that as long as the oil level is full there should not be a problem. He never ran it all out, he figured if you didn't need the power no sense in running it that fast. I however tend to crank it up and maybe its just me but she seems to use less oil. It is a good strong engine with nice torque. There is a part of his present yard that has a slope, takes about 3 passes to get it done and still haven't any failure with it. I have read the same stuff and would be curious to know more about the reasons for the catastrophic failures.

 

[jdalchemist]

Cam,
Congratulations on the nice find! Free is always good, especially when it is a runner. I suppose all the fuel had evaporated over the years, so you did not have to remove stale fuel. With some major maintenance, cleaning the fuel tank, replacing the fuel line and valve/strainer, and adding an in-line filter could be added to the list. Changing the hydro fluid and filter is a good investment.

You should not worry about the KT17 series I any more than you would other 27-30 year old KT17 series II, Onan, Briggs, etc. engines. Early series I engines had a rod design or material problem and the rods failed in short order. Kohler corrected this problem (even before introducing the series II engine), and I like to think of the improved engines as "series Ia". Many of these are still earning their keep.

With embarrassing failure of the early KT17 series I engines, some dealers (Deere, Cub, Wheel Horse, etc) were only too happy to place some blame on the consumer with the "mowing on a hill side explanation". I regard this often-repeated caution as an urban legend for the KT17 series I (Ia) engine. The KT17 series I and early series II engines have the same oil pump and oil pick-up system and both are rated for operation up to a 30 degree incline. From the oil pump oil is sprayed at low pressure from the spinning (approx 1750 rpm) camshaft in a series I engine, or ported at higher pressure to the crankshaft in a series II engine. Once the oil is picked up from the sump, gravity (tractor incline) is no longer a factor for lubrication for either engine design. As Timothy describes, many KT17 series I owners (myself included) mow reasonably inclined yards with no problems. It is wise to keep the oil sump topped-off in any engine.
Harold

 

[mickstan]

Well, I remember back in the day('85-88) my grand pa had my 317. It was a series 1 engine. We mowed about 4 acres at his farm. 99% flat central IL farmland. 1 long slope in front of the house along the road. Not steep, but it went from nearly flat to a good incline for about 300 feet. The further you went, the more it would smoke.
After he died, my mom got the tractor. She lived in hilly MO. The engine lasted about 2 seasons, then was replaced with a series 2. Thats the engine in it now, and wasn't used too much, and it smokes like h e l l. I believe the series 2 has failed because the Deere dealer did not replace the driveshaft with the new engine. It wobbles like heck. I now have the tractor and am trying to figure out what to do with it.
Just my opinion, but I think there is some truth in the "mowing on a slope" explanination.

 

[Cam8n]

Thanks for all the good advice guys.
Having a hard time finding a plow blade and newer mowing deck for this 317. Any places to look other then ebay? thanks guys

 

[jasbro2]

Cam, You can watch craigslist I bought my 317 because it came with a sleeve hitch, plow, cultivator, 54 blade, deck and a cart. Got them real cheap you just have to check c-list a few times a day so you don't miss something to a fellow WFMer.