Glad to have found this forum. I'm relatively new to tractors. I got to drive my grandpa's International and Farmall tractors on his farm when I was a kid, but that was about the extent of my experience until this last summer when I moved my family onto a 7 acre spread in central Ohio: 4 acres to mow/cultivate, and 3 acres of woods.
I spent a few weeks obsessing about tractors: what could I afford on craigslist and cross referencing my options with reviews and articles on this site and others. The grass was growing and I needed something quick-ish. The 318 was well respected and seemed well enough featured. A video clip of a 318 pulling a bottom blow made me think it would be a great do-all tractor for my smallish property.
I found a 318 that the seller promised was gone over mechanically and ready to go. It included a 46" deck, incomplete powerflow, Model 49 snow blower, wheel weights and chains. I figured I was in pretty good shape. Turns out, the seller was full of it, and the tractor didn't make it through the first mow before breaking down. After several rounds to the shop, I have a good running machine. I'm ~$3k all in so far, a bit more than I wanted. And in the midst of breakdowns and repairs, I picked up a good dedicated mower which is, in fact, in awesome shape and and with the tight turns on my tree filled yard, it takes a fraction of the time to get through the lawn. The 318 probably won't have the deck on very often anymore.
Fast forward a few months and I have learned one of the main uses for my tractor will be maintaining my 1/3 mile long gravel driveway. (This is the same driveway I was keen to have the snow blower for.) I don't have a 3 point hitch right now, but my dad's 2025R does and he has loaned it to me along with a 6' rake and 5' blade. After I figured out how to turn on 4x4, I was making progress getting some of the gravel back up out of the hard pack during a warm wet spell, but I ran out of daylight. Going slow with the rake at a modest dig depth, I could not maintain traction without 4 wheel. It makes me wonder if the 318 will be able to hack it.
I suspect I will need a box blade a few times a year when weather and daylight will limit upkeep. From what I've read, a 42" box blade can be dragged along with a 318. Does that include box blades with scarifier teeth digging in? For the width of the driveway, a 6' rake seems like the right size to maintain and crown the driveway, but several retailers recommend a only a 4' rake for 18HP tractors.
This is my question. Is the 318 enough tractor that I should keep it, invest in it, and be glad I did? Or, am I starting with the wrong platform? If I'm reasonably thrifty, I figure it'll cost another $2500 by time I get an FEL, 3 point, rear implements, and some restoration work. Should I make that investment in this old beast or sell what I have recoup some of my investment and apply that toward a different machine and tools?
I spent a few weeks obsessing about tractors: what could I afford on craigslist and cross referencing my options with reviews and articles on this site and others. The grass was growing and I needed something quick-ish. The 318 was well respected and seemed well enough featured. A video clip of a 318 pulling a bottom blow made me think it would be a great do-all tractor for my smallish property.
I found a 318 that the seller promised was gone over mechanically and ready to go. It included a 46" deck, incomplete powerflow, Model 49 snow blower, wheel weights and chains. I figured I was in pretty good shape. Turns out, the seller was full of it, and the tractor didn't make it through the first mow before breaking down. After several rounds to the shop, I have a good running machine. I'm ~$3k all in so far, a bit more than I wanted. And in the midst of breakdowns and repairs, I picked up a good dedicated mower which is, in fact, in awesome shape and and with the tight turns on my tree filled yard, it takes a fraction of the time to get through the lawn. The 318 probably won't have the deck on very often anymore.
Fast forward a few months and I have learned one of the main uses for my tractor will be maintaining my 1/3 mile long gravel driveway. (This is the same driveway I was keen to have the snow blower for.) I don't have a 3 point hitch right now, but my dad's 2025R does and he has loaned it to me along with a 6' rake and 5' blade. After I figured out how to turn on 4x4, I was making progress getting some of the gravel back up out of the hard pack during a warm wet spell, but I ran out of daylight. Going slow with the rake at a modest dig depth, I could not maintain traction without 4 wheel. It makes me wonder if the 318 will be able to hack it.
I suspect I will need a box blade a few times a year when weather and daylight will limit upkeep. From what I've read, a 42" box blade can be dragged along with a 318. Does that include box blades with scarifier teeth digging in? For the width of the driveway, a 6' rake seems like the right size to maintain and crown the driveway, but several retailers recommend a only a 4' rake for 18HP tractors.
This is my question. Is the 318 enough tractor that I should keep it, invest in it, and be glad I did? Or, am I starting with the wrong platform? If I'm reasonably thrifty, I figure it'll cost another $2500 by time I get an FEL, 3 point, rear implements, and some restoration work. Should I make that investment in this old beast or sell what I have recoup some of my investment and apply that toward a different machine and tools?