JD 318, new to me, clutch disengages. And material collection system question.

ktmracer · Apr 16, 2020

I'm very happy to finally have a 318 (1985) , and more so that this auction purchase actually runs pretty good. The hour meter is broken, but someone wrote 2013 275hr on the oil filter, and it seems like a low hour unit to me.

I've mowed once a few months ago with no problems. However, now its started to turn off the PTO clutch while mowing, the light goes out too. I can switch it back on usually. It seems for mow for about 50-100 feet before the blades stop. Does this sound like it could be a problem in the switch or in the clutch?

Secondly, the 318 has this massive rear grass catcher that I'd really like to use. However its missing the 2 pieces to connect from deck to blower. Any advices where to source these? Also the hydraulics move up when I've tested it a little, but it doesn't move down. Does it only move downward after a full cycle? I nervous to run it all the way up, and to have it stuck up.

Lastly, where is the best place to buy a new seat? I read on Ebay the seats often have numerous mounting holes so buyers aren't overwhelmed.

Thanks for any help.

fried1765 · Apr 16, 2020

ktmracer said:
I'm very happy to finally have a 318 (1985) , and more so that this auction purchase actually runs pretty good. The hour meter is broken, but someone wrote 2013 275hr on the oil filter, and it seems like a low hour unit to me.

I've mowed once a few months ago with no problems. However, now its started to turn off the PTO clutch while mowing, the light goes out too. I can switch it back on usually. It seems for mow for about 50-100 feet before the blades stop. Does this sound like it could be a problem in the switch or in the clutch?

Secondly, the 318 has this massive rear grass catcher that I'd really like to use. However its missing the 2 pieces to connect from deck to blower. Any advices where to source these? Also the hydraulics move up when I've tested it a little, but it doesn't move down. Does it only move downward after a full cycle? I nervous to run it all the way up, and to have it stuck up.

Lastly, where is the best place to buy a new seat? I read on Ebay the seats often have numerous mounting holes so buyers aren't overwhelmed.

Thanks for any help.

Try the Seat Warehouse website.
You can call them too, if need be.

Gary Fowler · Apr 16, 2020

I had a 332 (diesel version of the 318) and it had to be at high idle for the clutch to engage, not enough voltage otherwise. However once it engaged, it always stayed engaged. The hydraulics should go up and down under power and at any point in the cycle. Check your hydraulic connections in front of the radiator, one is likely partially disconnected.

Amvcane · Apr 16, 2020

ktmracer said:
I've mowed once a few months ago with no problems. However, now its started to turn off the PTO clutch while mowing, the light goes out too. I can switch it back on usually. It seems for mow for about 50-100 feet before the blades stop. Does this sound like it could be a problem in the switch or in the clutch?

Sounds like a seat safety switch issue. Also, I would make sure the pto clutch gap is adjusted to 0.018".

Eric102 · Apr 16, 2020

It's been a while since I had a 318 but I remember the air gap on the electric PTO clutch had to be adjusted occasionally or it wouldn't engage. Voltage was always an issue with the 318's, make sure you have a fresh battery with clean connections and the ground to frame (or engine?) connection is clean also.

Richard001 · Apr 21, 2020

Eric102 said:
It's been a while since I had a 318 but I remember the air gap on the electric PTO clutch had to be adjusted occasionally or it wouldn't engage. Voltage was always an issue with the 318's, make sure you have a fresh battery with clean connections and the ground to frame (or engine?) connection is clean also.

I agree with Eric, sounds like an electrical issue, such as low voltage. Check the voltage at the battery when the engine is running at medium speed without the PTO engage. You should see about 14.5 volts. If less, then your charging system is not working right and/or you have a bad battery.

Richard

Richard001 · Apr 23, 2020

K7LN said:
I doubt very much it's a clutch or voltage problem. The hardest part of the PTO operation is engaging the clutch. If it engages easily, it takes less energy to keep it engaged.

Well I have to disagree about the amount of energy needed to keep the clutch engaged. The operating system on the tractor and clutch is DC (direct current) operation. So with a fixed amount of resistance in the clutch coil, the current required to keep it engaged does not change from the the current required to engage it.

While there maybe some heating in the coil itself, which will increase the wire resistance some, but it will not have a significant effect on the coil current. If the charging system is not keeping the battery replenished while mowing, the battery voltage will drop below the voltage needed to supply the current through the coil to keep the clutch engaged.

Richard