I want a 318

Natispotatis · Mar 11, 2014

My first garden tractor, a 212, is nearing complete functionality and I realize I really want a 318. I want to sell the 212 when I'm finished with it along with my husqvarna yard tractor and a few snowblowers I refurbished. Besides craigslist and eBay, are there other tactics for getting one that isn't priced over the moon? A tractor and deck would be fine for now and want to spend under $1500. I'm in MN, are there good auction sites or something, or am I confined to craigslist purgatory?

-Nate

JohnnyReb · Mar 11, 2014

I scored mine by knowing the right person. Luck I guess you would call it. Just casual conversation with my father in law who said yea I got a old JD tractor in the barn...been there 12 years. When he said 200 bucks I couldn't get the trailer over there fast enough! And yes I started and drove it on the trailer along with a 54 blade.

CL isn't that bad. Just requires patients and ability to deal with idiots. Sooner or later a honest seller comes along who is reasonable.

Location may be your biggest problem. Down here in KY TN I can find them all day long. Up there they seem to sell like hot cakes. Just had a guy call last night wanting to buy my woods mower off my Farmall tractor who was from Massachusetts. Said he can't find anything up there and has to buy down south and ship. Couldn't make a deal though. No handshake no deal :fing32:

Natispotatis · Mar 11, 2014

Yeah, I've considered shipping one but that's not cheap or easy. Maybe I'll have to plan a road trip. I'd love to find a $200 steal! Got my 212 for that and the engine was blown. I'll keep waiting for my lucky strike.

-Nate

mrbeef · Mar 11, 2014

Well the first this I would do it educate yourself about 318's. Then be patient. Paid $800 for mine as non-running.. turned out a wire was off a solenoid.

Watch CL and eBay and do daily searches. Shipping is not that bad, I shipped one from TX to IA a little over a year ago for ~350. uship can work well. Dont be impressed by a shiny paint job!!!!!!! lots of people can paint..... paint is cheap... mechanical stuff is not.

Natispotatis · Mar 11, 2014

I've read quite a bit about the 318 on this forum and watched a handful of YouTube vids. I'd like to pay under $1500 in decent shape with a deck and blade or blower but They're usually at 2k or greater. Maybe I'll reconsider shipping.

-Nate

Leinie · Mar 11, 2014

Just so you know, I'm one of the guys looking to beat you to the good deal when it shows itself. Me and about 20 others !
Just have your cash, truck and trailer ready because when the deals come up- they go fast.
Then they turn up a week later with oversprayed yellow on the tires in another add and $500 more added to the price.

Justinh595 · Mar 11, 2014

You can check machine trader and tractor house but they usually have what you want way too far away. Another option is to contact your local dealers/mower shops and give them your information. Let them know your only looking for 318's and to call you if one comes in as a trade in. I have scored big by doing this. You can also leave numbers whenever you see one just sitting. I have also scored big by leaving a number. Other than that your stuck hunting on CL, have your cash ready because deals on CL go fast. Your competing with people like me that have cash and a trailer ready at literally a moments notice. I don't call sellers to ask questions and think about it, I call to look at it and take it home.

agleisberg · Mar 11, 2014

If you were in Ohio my former landlord has a 318 I am sure she would want to get rid of. It isn't running at the moment and I am not sure what is wrong with it but I do not think they are going to fix it.

hucklburry · Mar 11, 2014

It took me 3 years to find what I consider the right deal. The first guy to email didn't pick up the phone, I was #2 and bought it. There was a list of 10+ more I guess interested in it. Glad it came up on a Friday night not a weeknight, made it easier to go get.

mrbeef · Mar 11, 2014

Natispotatis said:
I've read quite a bit about the 318 on this forum and watched a handful of YouTube vids. I'd like to pay under $1500 in decent shape with a deck and blade or blower but They're usually at 2k or greater. Maybe I'll reconsider shipping.

-Nate

The best time for that kind of deal would be between Jan and Now.....

Figure a 318 in good mechanical and cosmetic shape with under 1000 hours is worth ~1700-2000. Then add attachments.

Leinie said:
Just so you know, I'm one of the guys looking to beat you to the good deal when it shows itself. Me and about 20 others !
Just have your cash, truck and trailer ready because when the deals come up- they go fast.
Then they turn up a week later with oversprayed yellow on the tires in another add and $500 more added to the price.

Just 500.... surely a paint job adds more than that... they are restored then :sidelaugh

k91 · Mar 11, 2014

You could also put a wanted ad on www.weekendfreedommachines.com you never know who might be local and have exactly what you are looking for. :goodl:

Hammerdown · Mar 11, 2014

Hello Nate
As Other's have told you locating a reasonable John Deere 318 is Not going to be easy. They do show up on Craig's list occasionally in my area but most that do are well over priced. Check the back row of John Deere dealership's it is a good apot to look. That is where I located my 1983 John Deere 318 about Seven year's ago and It came to me with an alomst new Replacement 48" mowing deck under it, I paid $300.00 for it as the dealer did not want to bother with it due to it's age they could not warranty it or place it on John Deere credit so when they do show up at dealership's as trade in's they most times can be had reasonable.

Another Option for you may be to locate a later made John Deere 316. We Just found one for my son in law and it is a true 350.0 Tractor. The body Panel's are very rusty as it spent it's entire life on the Golf Shores of Florida where it's Powder coat Paint failed and when it peeled off the metal it rusted badly. Nothing that can not be fixed as we are going to start working the body Panel's of it this week. I have the Onan P-218 engine up and running now and the rolling Chassis complted with new paint. We Paid $50.00 for his and when he is all done with it he will have about $450.00 total in it. Here is our Pair of Deere's. Regards, Hammerdown

Here is how his Looked the day I brought it home Just a Month ago. I stripped it down to the Chassis after I got it's engine running and Painted the chassis. Last night I placed the engine and drive shaft back in it after we painted the entire frame and Put the new fire wall insulation package on it. We will Now be sanding down the body panel's so we can paint them. it has been a Lot of work Bringing it back to where it is now, but it is a low hour machine and we only Paid $50.00 for it, so it will be worth owrking over the body Panel's and Placing a nice Paint job on it. It is not uncommon to see these Later made 316's with the Onan engine's in them got for $1500.00 or better in our area if they are nice.

Here is my 1983 John Deere 318 after I restored it. My Son in law's 316 will Look as nice when we are done with it within a week or so.

royalton10 · Mar 11, 2014

Natispotatis said:
I realize I really want a 318.
-Nate

Nate,

If Jimbochap sees this, he will likely find several on CL ads close to you within hours. He is the CL guro here. Or you could PM him.

Doug

clarke212 · Mar 11, 2014

agleisberg said:
If you were in Ohio my former landlord has a 318 I am sure she would want to get rid of. It isn't running at the moment and I am not sure what is wrong with it but I do not think they are going to fix it.

If he isn't interested in the contact info, I am. I'm looking to upgrade too.

jack2181 · Mar 11, 2014

There are lots of 318 ads. One ad has 2 with loads of attachments for 4500. Another has one for less than 500, but only running on one cylinder. But here are some in OHIO

http://columbus.craigslist.org/grd/4340919187.html

http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/grd/4345830271.html

Make a good offer this guy might not part his out.

http://cleveland.craigslist.org/grd/4367289999.html

another running on one cylinder 500

http://mansfield.craigslist.org/grd/4364192589.html

http://dayton.craigslist.org/grd/4334330664.html

Total BF just saw OP is MN.:hide: Just reread to see where the OHIO got stuck in my head.

Not much in MN at that price. But a few in closer surrounding areas below 1800

http://eauclaire.craigslist.org/grd/4330762837.html

http://madison.craigslist.org/grd/4318908822.html

http://appleton.craigslist.org/grd/4355408736.html

http://greenbay.craigslist.org/grd/4325842365.html project/parts

http://dubuque.craigslist.org/grd/4345738143.html

http://desmoines.craigslist.org/grd/4304951768.html Jan ad

http://bn.craigslist.org/grd/4357010598.html

Natispotatis · Mar 11, 2014

Wow, thanks for the info. Hammerdown, that restore job is awesome. After researching I think I'll shoot for the 318 for power steering. Looks like I could plan a road trip. Would hate to drive a hundred miles or more to find the PO has been hiding something. Thanks for the links, some of these 'sconnie ones look pretty good!

-Nate

Natispotatis · Mar 11, 2014

I'd buy the one in Bloomington, IN today if it were closer. Maybe I can wait out one around these parts or hit up a road trip.

-Nate

Natispotatis · Mar 11, 2014

Jack. Looks like Ohio has all the deals! I'd be interested in all of those. I'd like to take a crack at the one with wiring issues. Gives me hope, though, that I might nab something good around MN.

-Nate

jack2181 · Mar 11, 2014

Nate yeah the OH ones were a mistake. but left them cause already posted........kind of like putting chum into the water.

Other posters are correct lots of those looking and ready to jump. Check those ads in a day and lots would be gone.

Another option would be have a MTF'r close by check an ad out for you. Even play middle man for you.

I kind of thought MN being close WI, MN would be loaded with ads.

Happy hunting.

gas_sux · Mar 12, 2014

My 318 purchase was rather quick and unplanned. Always told myself if I ever saw one real cheap, I'd consider buying it for a 2nd tractor. A little over an hour after it hit craigslist for $1100 with 820 hours, I called immediately. My brother only lives 10min. away from where the guy lives, so after I talked to the seller, I called my brother. Told him to go over there and if it runs even descent and doesn't smoke, moves, and mows, then I"ll probably buy it. He called me a little while later and said yep everything works. I ended up getting it for $1000. It had a misfire due to the PO putting the wrong spark plug in one side that wouldn't spark. My brother not being totally mechanically inclined, he didn't notice during his test run... oh well. easy fix and I don't regret buying it one bit!!

I want a 318

Natispotatis

JohnnyReb

Natispotatis

mrbeef

Natispotatis

Leinie

Justinh595

agleisberg

hucklburry

mrbeef

k91

Hammerdown

royalton10

clarke212

jack2181

Natispotatis

Natispotatis

Natispotatis

jack2181

gas_sux

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