1987 318 restoration ... southwest Wisconsin

Didn't get much of the intake manifold cleaned but I did get the engine lifted so I could remove the right side head cover. Removed oil filter and head. I am concerned by amount of oil in the cylinder. Am suspecting the engine will be coming out again for piston and rings. Substantial mess to clean up on the right side.

Off to a school board meeting.

Cleaned up the valves and piston on right cylinder today.

• Haven't removed oil pressure switch and filter base yet. Those parts are extremely oily.
• Jim tells me I need to replace the oil pressure switch (Deere HE309-0548 replaces HE309-0510). Deere price for switch is $70.20 USD.
• Onanparts.com asking price for Onan 309-0510/309-0546 Oil Pressure Switch is $16.50 USD. I guess we know where I will getting this switch.
• DEERE 318 PC shows switch mounted in PT7910 45° elbow. There is no elbow on my engine and Onanparts does not sell this elbow. If I have one in stock I will see about installing.
• I need to get this oil filter base, gasket, and switch installed before I install the head. More room to work on it that way.
• I want to get the right side valves adjusted tomorrow and covers installed with new gaskets. Once that is done I can start installing intake manifold and exhaust tubes/gaskets.

Tomorrow I need to take Laurie to doctors appointments and grocery shopping so not sure how much will get completed on engine tomorrow.

I am not going to say this was the massive oil leak I had but it would cause considerable leakage. I may have broke this gasket removing the base. The side of the engine is very oily under this gasket.

I am very close to lifting the engine out of the frame to replace the oil pan. The gasket and the pressure switch will both be replaced.

The oil filter base gasket was brittle and broke into pieces when I removed it from the base. I have the new gasket on hand.

To lift the engine out of the frame

• I cannot lift the engine by myself without mechanical assistance so I need to do some reassembly to use cherry picker to lift the engine.
• Tomorrow I am going to clean up the block around the filter base and the cylinder head.
• Before I can install the head I need to adjust the valves. I did check the clearance today.
  • Exhaust I am going to leave as is. Checked about .013".
  • Intake valve however like the left side was < .002. It will need adjustment.
• Then I can install the valve cover, the filter base, and cylinder head all with new gaskets.
• When this is done I can install intake manifold and exhaust tubes.

When I have the engine lifted I will

• install the driveshaft on the charge pump
• Remove, clean, and paint the flywheel cover
• Replace the broken oil pan.

Then everything can be reassembled and see it the engine will start. I see the end of the tunnel.

Good morning Jim.

I agree this would probably be a good time to hone and re-ring the cylinders. Probably would have been a good time to also grind the valves.

My intention with this project was to fix the massive oil leak and get the engine running. I should have done a compression test before tearing the engine down. That would have given me an indication on condition of rings/valves. I was told by PO that engine needed a crank seal. From what I have seen the crank seal is ok and the leak was caused by the filter base gasket. Also the fill tube was mangled and may well have contributed to the leakage, Maybe the missing tab on the oil pan could also cause some leakage (crack in oil pan). Also I do not know why a PO unbolted the starter and drive shaft but those needed service also. For all I know this may not be the original engine in this tractor.

I understand it is recommended service to decarb the piston/head and check valve adjustment at some service interval. Re-ring the engine and grind the valves were never my intention with this project. When I am have this 318 running I will make the determination whether further service is required and if so the engine will probably get removed next winter for a complete rebuild like I just had done with 120 and 140 engines.

I explained earlier this is my first venture into an Onan engine. Admit I am a newbie here. I have another 318 with B43 down and removed while I install H3 hydraulic system. That engine ran perfectly and did not use oil. I will however since the engine is out of the tractor I will do the same work as I am doing on this engine except for replacing the oil pan. This P218 engine is giving training on what to expect when I tear into that project.

Thanks for your advice and following along with me on this project ... Gabby

Deere condensor part # HE 312-0256 dealer price is $54.98 (USD) w/o tax ... Onan condenser part # 312-0256 is $19.00 (USD) but is sold out. Going to call Onanparts to see if the part is going to be restocked. My dealer will buy back their condenser if I can get it from Onan. I don't like doing that but $35 difference in part is worth the effort.

Here is the engine; most of it reassembled. All I need to remove to lift the engine out of the frame is to disconnect the fuel lines from the pump. I have to take Laurie to doctor tomorrow and Thursday but hope to have time to lift the engine and replace the oil pan. With the engine lifted I hope to be able to pull the driveshaft out of the frame and service it. Then reinstall. I have firewall insulation to install next. Then finish assembling the engine an bolt it back into frame. Reconnect wiring and then fire it up. As I said earlier I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

says genuine onan, $12 shipped, 437 sold, hmmm....

Genuine Onan Cummins 312-0256 Generator External Condenser OEM


keep the updates and pics coming

J
____

2017 John Deere X738 60" auto-connect deck, johnny bucket, purchased sept 2017
1986 John Deere 316, 50" deck, purchased jan 1987, B43e onan died 2017, re-powered w P216
2010 Cyclone Rake Z10 - retired 2022

Coil is one of the ways to determine if engine is a B43 or P218. Attached is photo of a B43 coil. Located in same area on engine but is laying on its side. I have a B43 engine in the garage I will see if I can get a photo of tomorrow.


Didn't get home from doctors' appointment, dinner, and grocery shopping till about 4:00 today. I did not make it to the garage to get anything done today.