[javjacob]

I think JD requested/speced the plastic cam gear from Kawasaki to make the engine quieter.

Wouldn't surprise me. I honestly can't tell a difference in noise. The exhaust is much louder than any noise the cam gear is going to make. I'm glad there is a permanent fix to this issue though.

 

[javjacob]

I got the cam swap finished and the engine back on the frame. I replaced the idlers, front drive pulley since the old one was destroyed getting it off and a new JD drive belt. I dropped off the fender and floor boards for powder coat. I got the new dash installed and put on the steering wheel and a few other parts. It shouldn't be too much longer before it's finished.

 

[javjacob]

 

[javjacob]

I also upgraded to the aluminum valve covers. New fuel pump installed. I'm also going to install all new fuel lines, radiator hoses, fuel filter, gas cap... etc. I also plan on getting a new set of 6 ply V61 tires for the front.
It has turned into a restoration project but well worth it.

 

[javjacob]

I have it just about finished. I took it for a ride around the house to make sure everything was working right. I took the headlight apart to clean out 30 years of caked on dirt and junk. Also did some plastex repairs to the housing since it had some weathering cracks.

 

[Zebrafive]

I like it. Makes me miss my stolen JD 285 😥

 

[Sergeant]

The One thing I always did Like about the 320 was the Hydraulic Lift Lever Placement and of coarse the Integral Hitch was actually Hydraulically lifted.. The Placement of the Lever and The Hydraulic Lift integral Hitch was the Only things I wish they Had continued for the 325 through GX355. We Had to wait over 12 Years for the Hydraulic Lift Integral Hitch to return to the Belt driven Garden tractors.

Zebrafive I miss My 1988 240 .I Just really Like that Hood Look of those Tractors

 

[javjacob]

I would like to find a integral hitch for this one. It's a shame they didn't do the hydraulic lift for the 345.
I also like the look, it kind of resembles the 318 with the grill. I should have this thing completely finished before the weekend. I'm just getting the headlamp finished up, then I can put the hood on.

 

[Sergeant]

I would like to find a integral hitch for this one. It's a shame they didn't do the hydraulic lift for the 345.
I also like the look, it kind of resembles the 318 with the grill. I should have this thing completely finished before the weekend. I'm just getting the headlamp finished up, then I can put the hood on.

See Jimbochop on MTF I think he still has as a Integral Hitch That woks On Your 320

 

[javjacob]

I will see if I can send him a message

 

[javjacob]

I got it all together. It still needs some cleaning and new front tires.

 

[Sergeant]

I got it all together. It still needs some cleaning and new front tires. View attachment 857868
View attachment 857869
View attachment 857866
View attachment 857867
View attachment 857865

I think You should put Ribs in the front and AG's In the Back

 

[javjacob]

I think You should put Ribs in the front and AG's In the Back

I'm going to get some V61's for the front. I would get some AG's if I get another set of rims. I will get some chains for the turfs since they work great for pushing snow.

 

[Sergeant]

I'm going to get some V61's for the front. I would get some AG's if I get another set of rims. I will get some chains for the turfs since they work great for pushing snow.

see if any of these places have AM104008 rims

Home Page J & D Lawn Tractor

Looking for an obsolete part, we have a large selection of new and used replacement parts. We buy and sell new and used John Deere and other lawn and gardent tractor parts, attachment, manuals, etc.

www.jndlawntractor.com

Home - TractorSalesAndParts.com

We are currently building a new web site here for Tractor Sales! The old site was made obsolete overnight by our web hosting company when they decided to update their servers without notice or warning us that this would make our original site obsolete because it could no longer be supported! So...

www.tractorsalesandparts.com

Other wise there $215.65 a rim new

 

[Zebrafive]

Looks great! 🤠 I remember buying my 285. I started looking at the 265, the salesman convinced me to get the 285 for liquid cooling. Next, he wanted me to look at a 320 for the power lift. I was still thinking how much more I was paying for the 285 vs. 265, so I did not even consider the 320.

I no longer remember how much $$ more the 285 was than the 265, or how much more to go to the 320, but I do remember the OTD price with a 50" deck was $5K.

A friend told me he could buy three "monkey wards" lawn mowers for that and have change left over. I told him mine would still be mowing when his three were junked. He went through two, then bought a commercial mower, an ExMark.

 

[Sergeant]

Looks great! 🤠 I remember buying my 285. I started looking at the 265, the salesman convinced me to get the 285 for liquid cooling. Next, he wanted me to look at a 320 for the power lift. I was still thinking how much more I was paying for the 285 vs. 265, so I did not even consider the 320.

I no longer remember how much $$ more the 285 was than the 265, or how much more to go to the 320, but I do remember the OTD price with a 50" deck was $5K.

A friend told me he could buy three "monkey wards" lawn mowers for that and have change left over. I told him mine would still be mowing when his three were junked. He went through two, then bought a commercial mower, an ExMark.

I bough my 240 when the 320 wasn't even a thought in the Deere design engineers Head. Bought the Brand new 1988 240 $5,500 with a 38-inch deck, Integral Hitch, 30-inch Tiller, 42-inch Thrower and 46-inch Front Blade . I got a steep discount On everything as the Dealer said this was his discount for Members of the 10th Special Forces at Ft Devens at the time . and the Dumbest thing I did 12 year later was give everything to my cousin In Michigan Have tried Many time to buy the 240 back and he still won't sell it . So now when he visits and wants me to Give or sell him something the Price Goes rather High so he won't even ask


Today I wouldn't mind finding a 320. But 20 some years ago, I would have still really hated that model which is a Long story
BTW, Tractor Data has it wrong on the Introduction year for the 320 in 1991 when It came out in 1992

 

[Zebrafive]

I bought my JD 285 in 1989, so there must not have been any 320 to upgrade to. I do remember the dealer had all the tractors in a row in the show room, each one bigger, or more $$$, than the last one. I know I did not look at anything bigger/more $$$ than the 285, but there were some. Maybe 4XX tractors?

 

[Sergeant]

I bought my JD 285 in 1989, so there must not have been any 320 to upgrade to. I do remember the dealer had all the tractors in a row in the show room, each one bigger, or more $$$, than the last one. I know I did not look at anything bigger/more $$$ than the 285, but there were some. Maybe 4XX tractors?

1988 to 1992 the 285 was the Top Of the Line 200 series tractor 320 Came out Late fall 1992

Every One assumes the 320 is a replacement for the 318 through 332 But It's actually not a replacement which Deere explains on the Page Below and also everyone assumes the GT200 series is a replacement for the 200 series. The GT200 series was originality Introduced to Be a Lower cost Premium Garden tractor as the GT242 & Gt262 were In production at the same time the 245 & 265 were In production still

 

[javjacob]

I think people believe the 320 was the 318 replacement because it was a "300 series" ... well it was the new "late" 300 series. Then if you compare the 325-355...
316 and 325 were the economy models of their series
318 and 335 were the air cooled version with every option
322 and 345 were liquid cooled
332 and 355 were diesel
so it is understandable people think they replaced the early 300 series.
The 320 was kind of stuck between the 240-285 and the 325-355 series. Hydraulic lift gave it the 300 series badge.

 

[Zebrafive]

JD should have called the 320, 295 AND kept it in the 200 series as the new top dog 🤠
My 285 had an adjustable assist spring for the lift. If I had it adjusted wrong (too much assist) it would go to fully up and lock when I hit a bump, cutting too high.
My neighbor had a 318. IIRC it was bigger than my 285. He complained to me about the system that drove the belt for the mower deck. He said it made too many twists and turns.
I replaced my 285 with an x485 to get EFI, PS, larger deck, and stay with liquid cooling. New prices put me in the used market. I paid less for the x485 in 2016 than the 285 in 1989, but it was used with 500 hours.