Anything particular to watch for on a 310?

Local farmer has a well worn but still decent looking barn 310 loader tractor he is going to put in an auction with some other items. Tractor runs and tin is all there. Rubber is weathered bad but not flat. Loader works and the old gas 148 still sounds ok. Were there any weak points in this models design. It does not have any hand clutch, PTO only. Only made for a couple years I think in the late fifties, right? I am thinking that with a decent little loader like it has that it will bring approximately $1500-$2000, does that seem right to you for an old working 310 loader tractor?

The only thing I've had trouble with on mine is it wanting to jump out of gear on the direct side of the dual-range shifter. I'm assuming it's a dual-range?

A very handy unit for getting off and on but may not lift as much as a big outfit with a cab.

The 310 (round nose) was built 1956 & 57. 310B (square nose) was built 1958 & 59.

The early 1956 310 up to s/n 6055313 was factory with a 2 pin steering lever that breaks real easy under a loader even with a power steering cylinder.

Pic is my 310 2 pin lever on the left. You can see the lever was broken & rewelded up thru the pin on either side. Left side was broke when I bought it & I broke other side with a load of gravel later after fixing it. I put a 3 pin lever in it, end of problem. Later 310-310B came with factory 3 pin.

Great little tractor. $1-2000 in my area fair running shape & usable rears.

Joe

I think it is a dual range as it has a double shifter type deal. I am not up to speed on how that gearbox works. Is it like a high low doubling of a regular 4 speed?

Thanks Joe. That is the kind of inormation that is useful. I will take a look at the serial number and steering parts.

The 310 factory options in front of the main transmission was triple range and hand clutch for 12-3 spd. I never saw a 310 with dual range and it not in the parts manual. I don't think it was an option before the 310B.

The 310B can have the same options as 310 above or it can have the dual range shuttle option for 8-8 spd as in the pic. The lever on the right is direct drive & low range. The long lever on the left is forward & reverse. The main transmission does not have reverse.

Note that the reverse is faster speed in any gear than forward, actually 25% faster. This is purpose built to reduce loader cycle time i.e drive in slow, reverse & backup faster in the same gear.

310B will have the 3 pin steering lever, no sweat there.

Joe

While I'm at it and can't sleep anyway. These 310/310B loader tractors often get rode hard and put up wet in farm work, probably because they are an excellent small loader tractor for tight areas and everyones favorite.

Main area of wear & possible damage is the front axle assembly. This is the 310 I bought, left front axle viewed from the rear, 310B is the same.

Welded spindle. Tierod broken & welded reinforced with a piece of rebar. Thrust bearing cage crushed down both sides, still had the balls in it. Travel block on the other side had an extension welded on to limit right turns.

Check the cap on the hub end. The light duty hubs have a cap with 4 screws. Optional heavy duty hubs have a tap-in type cup like a a boat trailer.

Rough front is not a show stopper if you're handy, parts are avail either new or salvage. I saw all that and much more. It had near new rears, a nice loader and I just wanted a 310 to play with.

Joe

Ive used my 310 hard since I got it in 1994.I drove it in an orchard 18 yrs.B4 I bought it & fell in love with it(rough looking & well used).I have the triple range with PTO -3pt hitch(I made my own adjustable arms -but saved the original ones)
My worst problem was breaking a front spindle.My next problem has been getting decent brakes.I have put new disks in it. Now its time for an engine overhaul. When I first got it I did all the bearings in the drive train.and I think if I remember right I reversed the reverse gear (well worn). I love the tractor and would never part with it (I moved it from MA. to OK with me 10 years ago).It will be left to my grandson & my daughter will get my kubota.
They really are bullet proof for the most part.
The loader will lift more then most tractors in that HP class.
On another note I rebuilt a loader cylinder last month.I found some parts I couldn't get. I designed a seal holder-packing retainer that I know is much better than the original.I have a slight mod to do to it but will be glad so share the print if anyone is interested.

Joe my 57 310 is dual range with a hand clutch. So they did manufacturer a 8 speed with on a 310. I also have the build card for it showing ordered that way.

could be an o ring causing it to jump out but u may have to split tractor to correct it.
Chuck

Had my 310 for 12-13 years other than regular service hadn't had to do much to it replaced one king pin and thrust bearings. the brakes this year but that was roughing up and drying them. will have to replace a seal on the brake housing this year. Other than that a great machine real workhouse seems to lift what ever I ask it to.
Chuck

I can believe that. The 311B 1958 model year started 1 OCT 57 and is when dual range began showing up on dealer lots. It had probably been in development at least a year and undoubtedly could be part of a 57 round nose factory order.

I wasn't unusual to get the next model years features by factory order in those days even if it wasn't a regular option until the next model year.

We did that with a new JDM back in the 50's. Dealers ordered anything that was currently available even if was a new feature for the next model year.

Joe

Thanks for the info Joe, I guess i have a pretty rare 310 roundnose. I wonder if any other the on the board have 310 roundnose with shuttle shift dual range transmission. Always appreciate your advice on 300 series, keep up the good work. These 300 are a hell of a workhorse sure glad i found it so many years and it was only five miles down the street and I was third owner, the 310 spent its whole working life in this one town.

Chuck

Thanks for the reference guys. I bought the 310 with a nice Davis 102F loader. The tractor is a 1956 based on the serial number. It does not have power steering. Only PTO, no lift. It runs really smooth and I drove it home 5 miles with no issues.

The 4 speed is different than I am used to on my 1960 Allis D-14 or my 1969 Case 580CK. It has the H, L and D marking on the case with the slide in and out right side shifter to move from the HI/LOW (I assume?) but the left side long shifter coming out of the torque tube when all the way forward engages gearbox but when pulled to the rear does what? That a hand clutch or another range for gears? didn't want to be foolin around untill I move a LOT of pushed up snow banks first. The center 4 speed shifter works smooth.

I am going to buy a good service manual and parts book as I have for the other tractors; makes everything related to working on them so much easier and provides visual reference. Is the Case Service Manual for the 300 series tractors or is there a specific manual for models like 310, 311 etc? What is the HI/LOW setup called... Dual Range?

Appreciate any information. I will post a photo or two soon. Paint is ugly but no rust and no leaks. Served the farmer well over the years as a barn loader, and kept dry for the most part. Steering is okay as long as you are moving and makes for some excercise otherwise!

You have the same 310 I have. Mine has the Davis 102F loader, probably same as yours.

I don't know of any separate manual for the 310. All models in the 300 series are covered as one in Case RAC 9-92002 service manual. There are 2 editions of 9-92002, 300 series and later 300, 300B, 400B combined. The Case 300 parts manual is R.I. A324. 310 parts are on separate pages or annotated if on the same page as another 300 model. I think you may be able to still buy the Case service manual from Case. Case parts manual may have to come from another source like ebay or aftermarket vendors.

This site probably has some manuals, Likely Jensales or I&T.

Your tractor has a triple range gear train and a hand clutch pack mounted in the torque tube in front of the main transmission. Lever on the right is Low-direct-high range for 12-3 speed.

The long lever on the left is the hand clutch. The drive shaft off the foot clutch runs all the way back to the PTO engagement on the back of the tractor. The hand clutch in the torque tube is pto off that drive shaft for power to the triple range gear train > main transmission > rear wheels for ground travel.

The function of the hand clutch is to stop or start ground travel w/o using the foot clutch and interrupting a PTO operation. Case bills this as "constant running" pto. Almost live but not quite.

Joe

Thanks Joe. Here is the 310 after moving lots of heavy snow banks from the driveway yesterday. Impressed me with its lift ability and ran well. I am going to check with the llocal Case dealer on the service manuals.

Yeah that is the same loader I have including the brushgaurd except my controls & reservoir are on the left side.

I left the front pto pump off when I overhauled the engine because the shaft splines were bad shape on the pulley side. Running the loader off the internal pump. Got a new spline end welded on the shaft, just haven't gotten around to mounting the pump again.

Check your sn re that 2 pin steering lever, it may even have been changed out but if it exists, there is more than about 2" of steering wheel free travel, and you're going to do a lot of loader work, you may want to check "adjusting cam & lever" section in the manual when you get it. Gearbox takes about a qt of SAE 140.

Joe