just got a john deere 316......new custom graphics....and 1 last thing

[SWIGIN]

Back in 1986 my dad bought this tractor new and ever since it has been used HARD. He never checks the oil..... like NEVER, it was stone dry when I brought it home . Anyway, to say this thing has been abused is an understatement to say the least.

I got right into cleaning the thing up and adding oil...lol but i forgot to get before pics but here is a shot of the rear fenders and deck.




The rest of the tractor looked about the same as the pics above....now it looks like this.





The deck bearings were seized up so bad the blades would not spin. Dad said he was tired of the old deere and he gave it to me for free. It served him well but I can not believe it lasted 24 years and still runs perfect with how he treated it....lol

[cattle-dog]

you cant go wrong with that you will never have to buy a rider again. i just redid a case 444, rebuilt the motor, deck, new hydaulic lines. i have 700 into it i couldnt by a new same quality tractor anywhere, the riders of today are junk just my opinion the case dec is 1/8 steel not some pressed stell junk, give that deere some love and she wont ever let you down

[MTS]

Learned to cut grass on one of thos!...It have the small diesel..? i think there's one still out at the farm, Its lookin good! gota love JD green..

[Leadfoot71]

Nice resto! I have a 265 John Deere and I agree with cattle-dog. If I take care of it, won't need a new one again.

Mine also belonged to my Dad. He wrote the purchase price in the owners manuel when he got it...$5,400. That alone makes it worth fixing up!

[muddog]

a lawnmower is like a BR they will take more abuse than you can dish out, however nothing kills a deere like a (Case)Magnum

[SWIGIN]

thanks guys

It's funny a few of you said ''show it some love and it'll never let you down''........ my buddys who all know how my dad is with maintenance said,

now that I filled it with oil (and going to keep it filled) and cleaned it up it will blow up for sure now.....lol

Got to be something special about this JD since it is the ONLY thing dad has not been able to blow up that he has had that long.

[SWIGIN]

Learned to cut grass on one of thos!...It have the small diesel..? i think there's one still out at the farm, Its lookin good! gota love JD green..

I was already cutting grass when he got the JD but when it was delivered dad mowed with it once to try it out and said he will never be seen on it again.
I then mowed with it for 7 years ( and kept the oil changed) till I moved out then my sister took over for a bunch more years but in the end dad ran out of kids so he DID have to use it again...lol

[MonroeMike]

Nice job on the restore. Someone recently gave me a rider with a plow, that needs some work, hoping to get it going soon.

[SWIGIN]

I got a question for you tractor guys.

In the deck pic above, what is the bar with 2 bolts used for? It is right near the center of the deck near the belt tensioner pulley.

It seems to be a stop for the tensioner pulley but I'm not sure.

[cattle-dog]

is that where the spring for the tension on the pully gos. need a little better pick

[cattle-dog]

ok i took a really good look it does appear to be some kind of stop i see the spring on the opposite side

[SWIGIN]

Cool, thanks

seems kinda over kill but thats better then cheesy

[Dirtcrasher]

Nice stuff SWIGIN!!

It's funny, My DAD is so unorganized that I bet he operates at about 50-60% efficiency......

I on the other hand can produce a brass, zinc plated, SS screw in flat head, round head, phillister head and so on in seconds. I can find all my fastners like chicken!

Finding parts I've been hoarding is another story though.................

My JD500C backhoe has been very good to me thus far and it's done PLENTY of work on the track!

[Vealmonkey]

I don't know why, but I was half expecting this tractor to be painted blue? It's looking good so far. Can't wait to see it finished. That deck looks like it will take some work though. Is Bruce making the decals for this or can you still get them from JD? Does the engine have an oil filter on it? If so, what did the oil look like when it came out, or has it come out yet? LOL That's a seriously hard core little engine under that hood.

[SWIGIN]

I don't know why, but I was half expecting this tractor to be painted blue? It's looking good so far. Can't wait to see it finished. That deck looks like it will take some work though. Is Bruce making the decals for this or can you still get them from JD? Does the engine have an oil filter on it? If so, what did the oil look like when it came out, or has it come out yet? LOL That's a seriously hard core little engine under that hood.

I agree that Ford blue would be better on most things but not the old 316...lol

I am getting the decals that I care about made at work..... I work as a graphics guy so decals are no biggie. Yes the motor has a spin on oil filter, it was OLD looking but it practically fell off with finger pressure. The old oil (or what was left of it) had the look and feel of road tar. I filled it up when I got it home and ran it some to try to loosen that tarish snot. after 2 days I dumped it and it was thick and black....I never seen 2 quarts of oil get that dirty so fast! After I filled it back up and threw on a new filter I ran it for maybe 5 min....the oil is brown!!

This is going to take awhile to clean out.