[kastle875optonlinenet]

Hey Folks,

First - GREAT forum! Great people! Great info! And yup, I'm a noob. Don't know nothin', but I'm learning.

Second, I have a 318 ('84 I think) and other than a puff of smoke at startup, it runs like a champ. I also have a 50" deck and a 48" (I think) thrower. And, compliments of a forum member, an 80 cart. This is not a parade machine; it's worker. Why I waited so long to buy it is beyond me. I use it for darn near everything. Anyway, 2 things...

1. The hydraulics appear to work fine but if I raise the deck when I put it away, a day or 2 later the deck settles down. There are no leaks in anything, I left it in my garage for a few days to check - clean underneath. So, what do I need to do. Should I swap out the fluid? My gut says it's the original. (FYI, I changed the oil, lubed/greased everything, changed the intake filters, etc).

2. I have a fall cleanup issue I need to deal with and need some advice. It's done for this season but I need something long term and don't know where to start. I like the idea of a pull behind with a motor to create suction and some blades to grind stuff. Do any of these things pick up acorns? That is bugging me the most at this point.

Thanks for any feedback/info!

Take care and happy holidays!

- Kastle

 

[shadetree]

When you park (finish using for a while) your mower put the deck down. That way it will not creep down over several days.

I feel you are getting some wear by letting it creep down over time. I don't really know and it has been a long time since I slept in a Holiday Inn Express, so do as you like. I guess you could block it up so it doesn't creep down.

ST

 

[Craigc]

Kastle,
The hydraulic fluid is leaking at the valve. It actually leaks backward through the valve because there is pressure on 1 side only(caused by the deck hanging). It is a sign of wear in the valve and quite normal. Let your deck down and forget about it.
Craig C

 

[steveh]

EVERY hydraulic system will bleed off pressure when it is at rest. They will bleed off quicker as the system wears. To prevent the deck from dropping, you can install a transport kit on your 318 which mechanically locks the deck in the up position. In any case, the deck will only drop to the height you have your stop set at.

 

[moorewr]

After 35 years I bought a used MC 519, put a pulley on the outside spindle for the belt and my 84 430 worked wonders, I pick up leaves over 5 acres, last year due to heart problems I hired 3 men, took them 2 weekends, I did it this year in 2 days.

 

[seabeeken]

Kastle,
Most hydraulics systems do leak down unless there is a holding valve to prevent it. In your case, either the oil is passing at the valve due to wear or the valve isn't fully closed or the oil is slowly leaking past the packing in the cylinder. You should always relax all your hydraulics when done for the day. Its also a safety thing.
I use a trac vac on the back of my 430 and it works great. The wife and I are looking at a DR vac. Put a set of high lift blades on your mower deck and it should pick up the acorns. Mine does with high lift blades.

 

[arp123]

I would recommend lowering all attachments when putting them away. This is not so big of a deal with a mower deck but with a snowblower or something heavy like that, it's just safer to put it down. Just imagine a couple kids moving levers around and crushing a foot. The hydraulics will go down without power but you gotta start it to get them back up.