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Resurrecting a 1984 318 from storage

350 Views 3 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Flagger
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I picked up a 1984 318 from an estate a couple of days ago that the seller didn't know anything about the tractor except it didn't run. When looking at it, I found the sight gauge line was completely rotted off, the battery is shot, a couple of tires were flat, it was really dusty and it wouldn't steer. We hooked up a battery charger to it and it cranked which I took as a good sign and when I removed the plugs, they looked clean and it had enough compression to blow my finger off of the plug hole. Another good sign. The hours on the hobbs meter showed 765 hours and the tractor didn't look molested like so many projects turn out to have.
Yesterday, I put in a piece of vinyl tube on the transmission and pressure washed off some of the dust as an excuse to test and repair my pressure washer that quit working at my mother in laws house on Monday. Last night I ordered from a web sight a reprinted copy of the owner's manual. parts book and service manual to give me an idea on how to do things.
What is going to be the best way to resurrect this 318 that has been stored for many years in an unheated garage with an empty transmission.
My thoughts are:
1) Drain the old oil out and replace with fresh oil.
2) Clean the fuel tank and add fresh gas.
3) Charge or replace existing battery and see if the engine runs.
4) Once engine is running add hydraulic fluid to see if it will move.
5) If it runs, moves and steers, start to remove all of the crud built up on the tractor, replace filters, fluids, fuel lines and a couple of other parts I know need replacing.
As you can see from the seat, it's been sitting.
I have seen a couple of other posts about resurrecting a stored tractor, but didn't put in the correct search words to find them, so any suggestions would be helpful.
Thanks.
Chris
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Chris,

Looks like you got a complete, low hour tractor that will be a good machine when you get it serviced and back in operation. (y) (y) Were there any attachments with it or a deck?

Be sure to put hydraulic oil in the transmission BEFORE you start the engine, as the pump is directly connected to the driveshaft and will start turning as soon as the crankshaft does. Running that pump when it is dry will damage it !! When you replace the transmission filter, be certain it is rated for hydraulic service -- some physically similar filters will not work well in this application.

You will probably want to clean the carburetor well if gas has dried out in it because the small orifices will be plugged. Use only solvents and compressed air, not a metallic wire or drill.


Chuck
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Thanks for the information Chuck
I got a single cylinder 54" front blade and a deep deck with it.
I live 4 miles from my local Deere dealer, so I plan on using a Deere filter on it, but since the system was open to the air, I plan on flushing everything and then changing filters to get out the sediment.
Chris
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