[Bjones809]

I just picked up a one owner, running 322 (680hrs) with a 50" deck, owners manual and couple extra parts for $1200.

The guy I bought it from said he inherited from his grandfather (82 yrs old) but already has a ZRT. Needless to say it has been in the garage for the past two years without service. So I bought it and brought it home.

I started to do a complete service on it and when I pulled the spark plug cap off the middle cylinder the spring was still on the plug. I called the dealership to see if I could just get a new plug wire but the parts guy said I have to buy a whole new electrical coil. Now to my questions...

#1 Is he correct or can I just buy a new cap? I looked at the parts catalog and it has the cap and spring listed separately as if they are replaceable items.

#2 What is the second oil cap for on the left side of motor?

Any other service tips would be greatly welcomed too. Thanks.

 

[chuckv]

Ben,

Welcome to the WFM forum and to owning a very fine and desirable tractor. I have two of these 322 tractors myself and would not part with either one.

One of the WFM sponsors here, Keeping It Green, lists a replacement part as Part #: M810617 as a substitute for the M802139 cap. It is $11.02 and can be mail ordered from them. You might also want to pick up a copy of the service manual for this tractor which is TM1591. I like the CD version for the search ability, but there is a print version available also. The CD costs half the print version, $55 versus $110. It really is worth the investment.

A lot of folks might think that this manual is expensive, but my owner's manual shows that in 1990 the service manual was $25.75 and almost anything of value has gone up about that same 2 to 4 times ratio in the intervening 19 years (or the dollar has gone down by a factor of 2 to 4...) This represents a compound interest rate equivalent of only 4% to 8% per year. Prices change over time and I recall 3 cent first class mail -- now first class postage is over 15 times that much.

(OK, off the soap box...didn't mean to start a rant, but the manual is REALLY worth having!)

The second yellow cap on the Yanmar engine is an alternative filler location for other applications, it is redundant to this motor location as the valve cover filler is easily accessed by simply raising the hood.

Again, welcome to the three cylinder Yanmar owners club...

Chuck

 

[Bjones809]

Chuck,
Thanks for the reply. This is an awesome machine. I have been looking for a 318 and found this one. The 322 came with the original owners manual and the PO wrote done ever service he did- bonus. Plus he gave me extra parts for the mower deck- bonus #2. Since I bought it from his grandson it help with a lot of questions about service history.

I will look at Keeping it Green. I am looking for a service manual. Where can I get a CD for $55? I think it is worth that since it is hard to find anything on the internet. I have a laptop so the CD can go in the wokshop with me when working. Thanks, Ben

 

[chuckv]

Ben,

Keeping It Green has the CD version of the manual, just search on the part number as TM1591CD and it will come up.

I tend to print "working copies" of the page(s) to take out to the shop rather than take my computer out there as there is no high speed data connection in my separate shop building. Another useful thing is to take lots of digital photos whenever you do disassembly so no matter how long something is apart, you have fresh views on how it is supposed to go back together. I have an inexpensive point and shoot camera with Macro capability that I keep set to 640 pixel resolution so pictures can be easily posted to this forum.

Your 322 with low hours and full documentation on service is definitely a good find! This site is a wealth of information, and helped me immensely when I first started visiting here.

Since you have the original owner's manual you have all the information for getting all the periodic service up to date. I will send you an excerpt of some of the electrical information from the TM1591 that you might find useful until your full service manual arrives.

Be sure to register your tractor here, you can get the model year that way if you do not already know it. There are several subtle changes during the production of these tractors (manual versus automatic choke, hydro linkage, etc.) that depend on the exact serial number range. The parts catalog PC2149 will detail these...

Chuck

 

[Bjones809]

Chuck,
I just registered my 322. Its a 1991. I appreciate all your assistance. This website is awesome. Thanks again.

Ben

 

[Richards]

Ben,
Welcome to the site! There is a wealth of knowledge here and some of the nicest people you'de ever want to associate with.

I sent you an email Ben, as I also live in NC, fairly close to you.

Richard

The Banjo Man

 

[Bjones809]

I figured out the spark plug cap question. I was stumped for a while so I took a cap off another plug. I then remove the cap from the electrical coil wire. The spring stayed in the cap. Hince I figured out how the coil went on the coil wire and how to put it back in the cap. Thanks for everyones help.

Richard, hows the dealership in NB? The guy in parts here is not to friendly, I think his name is Dick

. Thinking of switching to Wallace or NB. I will probably just order from "Keeping It Green" to safe gas money though.

 

[Bjones809]

On the above post I meant to say the coil stayed on the coil wire...

 

[Richards]

Ben,

Their parts guys are pretty good, and friendly, but not perfect though. The prices are high, as I suspect most all the dealers are. There are some things that you may end up ordering from the dealer, but most of the common parts can be ordered from Keeping it Green.
Yes, fuel prices are climbing again, although J'ville is a bit lower than NB. How far are you from 17 and Western?
One good thing is that I won't be shipping out any time soon, not unless things get really desperate! If they start taking guys my age, then we are in a world of hurt.

Richard

 

[Bjones809]

I think j'ville prices are lower $ to deal with that guy. I was trying to buy parts and support the local dealership but I like helpful people, not someone that makes it seem that I am inconveniencing him. It was like pulling teeth for him to look up parts for me.

I live near the new wally world, southwest area of j'ville.

 

[Richards]

East Coast JD has no problem looking things up for me on the phone, or taking time to go over things if I need some assistance. Of course, they would like the repair business, but are grateful for the parts I buy.
Whee is that Wally Wprld in relation to the one at 17 and Western? We dont get to other places in the city, just Sam's and PetsMart

Richard

 

[Bjones809]

Richard,
Wally world I am referring to is near the New River Air Station. Just opened up in past few years. you would have to take the new by pass around to get to it or stay on 17. You can't see it off 17 though. There is a new blue box store next to it too.

Thanks to a few other members I have all the manuals I need to keep the 322 running for years. Thanks to everyone and as I said before this website is awesome.

Ben

 

[phil47]

Ben - Nice find on the 322 for $1200. Great price! The 322 is a very nice machine.

And it is great having members like Chuck who are always so willing to help.

Have fun with your new tractor!