putting a Honda engine in a John Deere 318

Cas · Oct 2, 2012

We use a John Deere 318 with an angle blade to push up feed for cows in the alley of a free stall barn. Lately the onan engines have been chewing up ring gears. Replaced 3 ring gears and starters.
I am thinking about updating engine to a Honda. Does anybody have any thoughts about problem or update. Really like the way the 318 pushes. It runs about 8 hours a day and starts about 15 to 20 times a day.

rrobert · Oct 2, 2012

and swap the blade attachment if you are planning on using a new engine. I would go with a Kohler personally.

I would suspect a top bearing on the Onan causing the gear and starter to be damaged. Or the teeth are not a match. Although, 20 starts a day is a lot of wear and tear. I would check how the teeth mesh together by distance and adjust if able.

Go to the Honda site and see if they have a cross reference chart for the engines. Some places sell plug and play wire harness for the transfer.

joe csuti · Oct 2, 2012

I agree with rrobert,problem may be crank bearings or possibly with removing/replacing starter motor same had shims between block/starter motor to set gear lash between drive & ring gear & shims were lost,some mod briggs eng use this system,for a replacement eng goto link below,click on repower listings & lookup jd 318,seller offers several briggs drop in replacement eng kits.
engine

Anonymous-0 · Oct 2, 2012

A repower with a Honda engine will cost around $1,700 for the kit.

TWheat · Oct 2, 2012

Friend is re-powering a big brother to it , a 445, with a 22 hp Honda
Definatelty not a bolt up deal but it is going to be doable. Be sure you get the remote starting option if you don't want to have to move it from the front of the engine. He has had to do some coupling modifications .

Anonymous-0 · Oct 2, 2012

There is some good help on re-powering a 318 on Weekendfreedommachines.com. No other engine will be a 'drop-in' but can be made to work.

Ken Combs · Oct 2, 2012

if your Onan is a B series, the starter gear to ring gear clearance must be adjusted correctly. It is not simple bolt on as one hole is slotted and has to be set to correctly mesh with the ring gear. I suspect that is the cause of your problems and can be fixed a LOT easier than an engine swap.

dhermesc · Oct 3, 2012

http://www.smallenginewarehouse.com/RepowerItems.asp?Brand=John%20Deere&Model=318

They have "drop in" engines but they are 18 and 23 HP Briggs - not Hondas.

Traditional Farmer · Oct 5, 2012

Another option would to be on the lookout for an
engine out of a 332 or 322 both are Yanmar engines and the same tractors as the 318.

putting a Honda engine in a John Deere 318

Cas

Well-known Member

rrobert

Member

joe csuti

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

TWheat

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Ken Combs

Member

dhermesc

Well-known Member

Traditional Farmer

Well-known Member

Similar threads