I bought this 1983 John Deere 318 without a motor a year or so ago. I am just getting around to getting it running. Have a motor installed and put on a mower deck. Pulled back on the outside lever and nothing happened. Sprayed the levers and valve with WD-40 and tapped the levers with a hammer. The outside lever now moves. I pulled it back and the mower slowly came up. I pushed it forward and the mower stayed up.
When pushing the outside lever - just past center I hear a noise - the lever will continue to move about twice that far and lock in position. When pulled past center (into the raise mower position) I again hear the noise.
I removed the hoses from the cylinder started the motor and fluid came out both hoses. Pushed and pulled the lever and got a rush of fluid. As near as I could tell neither hose stopped flowing, but I was making such a mess I am not sure.
The piston was all the way out so I pushes it half way back in. I hooked the hoses back up and started the motor. I pushed the outside lever to lower the mower but the piston extended. I then pulled the outside lever and the piston continued to extend raising the mower.
Sorry, I don't know enough to even ask the right questions. I don't think this is a problem with the cylinder. Could it be some of the hoses are hooked to the valve wrong or is the valve just wore out? How is the best way to remove the valve? I can't even get to where I can get a good look at it.
When pushing the outside lever - just past center I hear a noise - the lever will continue to move about twice that far and lock in position. When pulled past center (into the raise mower position) I again hear the noise.
I removed the hoses from the cylinder started the motor and fluid came out both hoses. Pushed and pulled the lever and got a rush of fluid. As near as I could tell neither hose stopped flowing, but I was making such a mess I am not sure.
The piston was all the way out so I pushes it half way back in. I hooked the hoses back up and started the motor. I pushed the outside lever to lower the mower but the piston extended. I then pulled the outside lever and the piston continued to extend raising the mower.
Sorry, I don't know enough to even ask the right questions. I don't think this is a problem with the cylinder. Could it be some of the hoses are hooked to the valve wrong or is the valve just wore out? How is the best way to remove the valve? I can't even get to where I can get a good look at it.
