1618?

doublezero said:

Mine is running just fine. Aside from keeping the fins clean, what else can I do to avoid expensive sounds and pieces falling from the engine room?

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Keeping the fins clean is the number one thing to do. I've heard of valves getting out of adjustment as well so I would check every once in a while. Some folks just have good luck with them and you may be one. I didn't have mine long enough to worry about it.

Hi,

I have never owned one (K361).

One issue that I have heard and seen evidence of is that the head is made from aluminum and the valve seat inserts are steel of some kind. So if the head is allowed to overheat (cooling fins not clear) then the valve seats come "loose" and then all kinds of bads things happen.

And obviously if you do not have an oil pump to provide oil to the rocker arms on top of the head then long term you will have issues with that area.
I'm not sure how to address the lack of lubrication to the rocker arms.

Good luck.

chuckbob

jas11964 said:

Keeping the fins clean is the number one thing to do. I've heard of valves getting out of adjustment as well so I would check every once in a while. Some folks just have good luck with them and you may be one. I didn't have mine long enough to worry about it.

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I haven't had mine long enough to really run it, but I will pull the tin off and blow out those fins. Anyone know the specs for valve adjustment on these? The other post about the steel seats/aluminum head makes perfect sense. I had a Cadillac that had an aluminum block with steel cylinder sleeves. Besides just being a rolling turd, if you got it hot just one time it was a goner. The sleeves would drop down and whack the crank as it rotated. The sound was not pleasant at all.

If it only has the snow plow and no mower deck, I think I would offer more in line of around $1200-$1500 at most. Some prices here in the New England area are sometimes superfiscially high for some reason and people try to get more than some items are worth and often times they get it. Hopefully you can low ball him and meet somewhere in the middle.

Ken B said:

What do you guys think the value is on this tractor? its an 81, the paint is in good shape with all the decals on it. Hydraulic lift and snow blade. It has the smaller tires in front, not the 12's. The K361 does run pretty nice. I know pics would help but I don't have any.

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Wait a minute, this tractor has the k361 AND the 8" wheels? Something isn't right. I don't even think they offered the 8" wheels in 81. I don't have my books handy but I think they all had 12" front wheels by then. I definitely don't think they ever paired the k361 with a tractor that had 8" wheels. Of course, as usual, anything is possible.

jas11964 said:

Wait a minute, this tractor has the k361 AND the 8" wheels? Something isn't right. I don't even think they offered the 8" wheels in 81. I don't have my books handy but I think they all had 12" front wheels by then. I definitely don't think they ever paired the k361 with a tractor that had 8" wheels. Of course, as usual, anything is possible.

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i thought the same. i thought by then everything had a number for a model, and the only thing with 8 inch front tires were the 1612s. its possible that something is not original, or we will one again be confused by the mysteriousness of the company.

By the looks of this tractor all appears to be original. It is without a doubt a k361 in there. The biggest turn off for me was the little 8 inch front tires on it, I was very surprised to see them on there as well. I now see he has it on C/L for 2500.00.
I have dealt with this guy before, in fact I got my 62 Economy from him.
Its funny how he always says this one I'm gonna keep, its for my boys blah blah blah. SURE!

doublezero said:

I haven't had mine long enough to really run it, but I will pull the tin off and blow out those fins. Anyone know the specs for valve adjustment on these? The other post about the steel seats/aluminum head makes perfect sense. I had a Cadillac that had an aluminum block with steel cylinder sleeves. Besides just being a rolling turd, if you got it hot just one time it was a goner. The sleeves would drop down and whack the crank as it rotated. The sound was not pleasant at all.

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Was that the 4100 series Caddy? They were JUNK!

i remember seeing something about the wide option also, i think it was for tractors that already had 8 inches on the front. if he says he doesn't want to sell it i think hes lying. he posted on the 28th asking 2500 and today asking 1800, big drop pretty quick. i see quite a few posts from bethel, looks like he wants sell every thing individually.