Could it Be Saved? Free John Deere 318 

I hope you consider fixing the mower deck someday, just for those who want to know what all it takes to restore it. I also hope you do that snow blower video later this year. Finally I recently lost my father. He was a mechanic all my life. When I helped him with projects around the house or on cars he would talk like you do. If he forgot something till the end he would go "Now now, why didn't you remind me about that" or"Hey, hold that down for me". Or, "Ha ha, you thought I forgot that part, didn't ya?" He left me all of his tools and I think I may pick up this passion one day. Thanks for being you ❤️

For some reason I'm proud of myself for all the work you did on my tractor?

Those drive-by's killed me. That thing may have been free but that was a TON of work.

I am aretired industrial mechanic 74.I just a had to say first of your work I have seen. I watched every one of your videos on this tractor. I thought that the electrical trouble shooting was excellent.That's what got me to wanting to see how you turned out. Man what a show! he last few of my thirty-years trouble shooting in the plant was what I done. Arthritis was hitting me hard even though I was in my early 50's . They were rotating three or four young mechanics every three months to work with me on the jobs in the mill that was causing repeated equipment downtime that the mechanics and engineers in those (9) areas were having trouble with before I could stay no longer. I did not want to go but could no longer stand the hours. That was a great systematic display of your very good trouble solving mechanical skills. I thoroughly enjoyed and envied your opportunity to be able to work on that piece of equipment. Thanks for sharing your in trade experience and teaching skills with others . r

Mustie, I admire you. You have the patience of a Saint, the knowledge and tenacity to tackle literally any job. After 5 minutes I'd have been cursing like a sailor. THANK YOU for such fine videos.

Nice work! You took a lawn ornament and turned it back into a fine running and fine looking piece of equipment! Thanks for taking us along.

Glad you finally took the dent out of the tailpipe. It was driving me crazy. 😉

Did anyone else hear it, or was it just me @ 54:40? I could swear I heard ... "It's 106 miles to Chicago. We've gotta full tank 'o gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark & we're wearing sunglasses. HIT IT!" But it might've just been me? Great job Mustie1. You're a credit to tinker'ers everywhere! Love you, love your show, loong time watcher. Shame you couldn't have taken Lilly for the test drive too. Woulda added a lil "extra flair." LOL! (Like it needed some to begin with.) God bless you & your family. I bid you peace.

My first RU-vid comment: I was watching this at 15:18 and said out loud "This is glue, strong stuff"..... Always good to hear another Elwood homage come back at me. Thank you. It made my day.

So now we all know why the factory installs a seat safety switch! That was a really great job on the tractor. Enjoyed the series very much. Thank you.

This is some classic Mustie1, right here. Thanks for taking the time. Loved the tractor posing passes at the end.

Hi Mustie1. How am I doing? Well thank you. Thanks for letting me hang out in your garage. 👍

Love the Blues Brothers reference "This is glue, strong stuff"! Really enjoy the channel Mustie, keep up the good work.

Looks great now all we need is snow this winter! Thanks to your videos, I broke into my disfunctional line trimmer this weekend. Replaced pull cord and broke carb down to clean it out. It's now a 1 to 3 pull start now. Thanks Mustie1.

Thanks for restoring the old girl!! I have four 318's and they are all BRUTES! The first one I purchased new in 1985 and she's still on the job. I paid $4800.00 for it. That's a lot of cash for a garden tractor, but it's built like a tank and will run circles around the junk that's sold nowadays.

The end with all the poses gave me a huge laugh, love it! Great job, it turned out great!

Does anyone else look forward to coffee and a mustie1 video on Sunday mornings while they're going through the rest of the week?

You need to make a brush on the plough, sweep the workshop in no time!Matthew

Thanks for letting me hang out with you. You have a nice looking tractor. Now it’s time to get the snow blower up and running. Thanks once again.

Great video series - thank you! The seat reminds me of my grandmother who had plastic covering for her couch. God bless Paul

You did such an incredible restoration job that everybody is going to want a 318. Maybe for another project, you can make it operate by remote control so you can sit inside and plow snow.

Riiiing. "Hello, Mustie?" "Yeah." "Um. I'd like the John Deere back."

love the rebuild , but your stunts where brilliant never laughed so much thank you needed that .... all the best mate jj uk

This video is up less than 48 hours, 9.8K thumbs up, 175584 views, 1482 comments. You have a lot of friends out here in Television Land Mustie1! This is an actual tractor... not just a lawn mower. Really nice job of fixing it up. Great video series. As always...

Mustie 1. For wiring connections do not use grease. It interferes with electron flow and can be a fire hazard. There's a product named Deoxit that's made to counter corrosion on electrical connectors. You can get it in wipes, spray, tube and other forms. They have a red and gold version depending on application parameters. Temp is one of them. I've used on electronics and connectors for years. It stops dissimilar corrosion on connections like a champ. I lived in the Keys for 10 years (96-2006) and we used it on boats and the jukeboxes I was a service manager for the upper Keys amusement vending company I worked for.

I got your Blues Brothers reference. Just don't glue the gas pedal down!

Hey from down under Australia love your work looking forward for more awesome videos

The beat part of waking up, Mustie in the morning.

I owned a 316 for about 20 yrs what a sweet machine. 18 hp Onan, no power steering .I had a blade and snow blower but only 1 lift piston,no angle control. Really enjoyed your videos on repairing this machine.👍😀

It is an absolute pleasure to hang out in the garage with you young man you are a wrath of knowledge and extremely mechanically inclined with an over abundance of patienceYou’re awesome keep up the great work and the great videos.

you have to much fun. cracked me up. thanks for the vid.

I learned one thing is Mustie1 actually bleeds oil i saw it with me own two eyes look for it yourself!

He's not stupid, he's just plum crazy. Enjoyed the video.

I remember when I was a kid,thank I was like 6 at the time,my dad bought that exact same machine back in like 86 I thank it was,and even way back than I remember he told me he gave right at 6 grand for that tractor,I’ve always loved the 318’s every since. Me and my sister use to ride with him on the rear fenders when he would mow,can’t believe I use to be able to set on that little spot…..not so little anymore lol!! Loved watching you bring that beautiful machine back to life!

That’s the most amazing transformation I’ve ever seen. You are a genius and a master mechanic, fabricator and your knowledge is incredible!

When the plastic came off the seat... that was the defining moment of the series!

Kinda binge watched the series on this rebirth of the John Deere 318, love how in depth you can go when “fixing” something you set your mind to...amazing looking tractor. Really enjoyed the test drive at the end, it was the only way to truly show off your craftsmanship on this build, and a little show boating never hurts either..... Keep up the great videos, we are watching and waiting.... thank you. And a big thanks to Dan for being so generous and allowing us the hours of enjoyment and education brought to us by you, thank you Dan!

greetings from Ontario Canada congratulations on a nice tractor, it will be a fine work horse for you. thanks for bringing us along for the ride.

Not sure how much snow you get there in New Hampshire, but here in Anchorage, I prefer the snowblower. My plow moved snow but tended to compact it in a solid block. After a bit I run outta room to plow it. Went with a snow blower instead as I can now throw it further and it crushes the snow crystals up so they take less room. Thanks for taking us along for the repair. Really enjoy seeing old equipment not go to waste.

It's amazing how that one little adjustment gave you miles of room. I love this channel for education.

Great stuff as usual. The PTO explanation was very good. I always learn something from each of your videos. Much appreciated!

What a beautiful tractor,you did a great job, I would not sell it,that's a keeper.

Had a BALL with you on this. Great Job!

Just love to see you repairing stuff. You bring things back to life and make it work again correctly. It is never a full and expensive restoration. But you are great at extending the life of this machine maybe even doubling it. The guy who buys this from you will enjoy using it for many years. And I hope you make a great price for it if you sell it.

8:49 "and away... it goes!" Thank you Mustie1 - great show and thanks for having us along!

Thanks for the smiles at the end. I love your videos. Awesome as always

Super job , well done . Many moons ago I ran the shop at a Deere dealership , back when that unit was new . I love the 2cyl Onan engines . the 318 , 420 were great units . We sold a lot of them and all kinds of implements with them. Funny too years later after working at Deere , I picked a 318 up for $400 bucks that was dead in a guys yard , same situation pretty much . Maybe why I watched your videos LOL. A new battery , some carb work (as you did) and cleaning , deck work , along with some electrical work and couple new tires and paint and it looked as yours does . Mowed some grass for half a season , and sold it for $2800 . I already had a Cub Cadet I mowed with so really didn't need two units. Kinda wish I never sold it . I picked up a 755 JD about ten years later on a trade and fixed that up and sold it a year later , another stupid mistake , but money talks . So really enjoyed your videos . Thanks for the memories .

Haha loved the blues brothers reference. "This is glue, strong stuff"

I know this is a year ago, but it makes me smile to think about you anxiously waiting for winter with baited breath so you can use your new snowplow. While you were playing around with the hydraulic ram and testing the movement of the plow, I was imagining you whistling the theme to Green Acres; occasionally singing “Hy-draulics is the place for me, always plowin’ is the life for me...” Simple pleasures make the world go ‘round.

Started watching your channel for a couple days now, and it totally saved our push mower today! It wouldn't stay running and sure enough watching your content gave me enough insight to fix it quickly. Thank you for sharing part of your life/hobby and keep at it friend!

Another job well done. Thanks for the "before" and "after " at the end and thanks for posting.

53:12 running a red light in reverse on a tractor. Going to need to see your license and registration, Sir.

I'm enjoying this project. so many things covered on this machine that'll com in useful. Thank you for going through it from stem to stern.

*I really enjoy all your efforts, to include viewers in the conversation. It's like visiting a family member. Thanks Mr. Mustie1, You Rock.*

I always hated how the exhaust pipe stuck out on Deeres. I would put a 90 degree elbow on it and run it down near the front wheel. Keep it from blowing back in your face when you are mowing or blowing into the wind. Great fix and restore. Looks fantastic. Always loved Deere green. Well done.

Mustie - You ARE All American ! So darn impressive.

yup, loved the Blues Brothers reference..made me chuckle

As good as new, looking amazing. Thank you for sharing your amazing journey. God bless you and your family

I didn't think anyone had more "stuff" in their garage than I did but...... You mimic one of my favorite sayings "I've done so much with so little for long I am now capable of doing anything with nothing".

If there was ever any doubt that Mustie had a sense of humor that has been put to rest! Thanks Dan for donating the tractor, I thoroughly enjoyed this series of videos.

wow if I didn't see it from start to finish I wouldn't beleave its the same one man you really know what your doing great video loved it

Hey, grandma! Take the plastic off the couch, for Pete's sake! LOL! Nice work!

That was made when john deer made great tractors still.Good job restoring it.

No tractors were damaged during the filming of this video! Great build! Thanks for sharing!

Does my heart good to see you bring this 318 back in service, They where built like tanks in there day. A machine well worth the time to do as You are doing here... You The Man! My hat is off to you !

Now all you need are some rear wheel weights or a rear hitch weight to go with the tire chains. Or some bar tread rear tires.

This was really a great series. I learned a lot during it. Definitely include us on first use and especially if you put the snow blower on. Thank you for your videos.

my youtube hero love it, a nice Sunday with a Mustie1 video The beat part of waking up, Mustie in the morning. This was really a great series. I appreciate the effort that goes in to making these videos and time,sweat or even blood. Once again, loved your video. Always looking forward to the next...😁 Excellent job Mustie, I knew you would knock it out of the park. Glad you did the before and after too, it's barely recognizable as the same machine. Sweet project, well done and thanks for taking us along with you. 😃😃😃 from Seattle

Watching you roll out the finished product reminded me when I was a kid waiting for the family's new car to roll out of the dealership back lot. Another satisfied customer.

Wow that is one beautiful 318, I would love to have one down here. Not much use for the snowblower but all the other attachments would work good on the farm. Excellent job 👍 I thoroughly enjoyed watching the entire restoration. Thanks for filming the rebuild, Jimmy

@52:00 When you got the second spring in, I couldn't help but to speak Italian. "Badda Bing, Badda Boom!!" Don't forget the Hydro Oil. Hey! You said to remind you! :-)

I always feel like I'm standing in the shop with you. Often, just for a split second I have to think, oh yeah he can't hear me. lol

Somebody like his new tractor! Ha ha, and abt 28 min, confirmed! Musty does bleed 30 wt.

Mustie I sent you a carb cleaning brush set...I got one to fix my two aging Motorcycles after watching you for a couple years...saved myself a few hundred bucks....thanks for the great tips buddy.

Just found your channel last week on the 50 year old bus motor. Playing catch-up on you videos. This series was A+++++++++. AWSOME work on bringing the 310 back to life!!!!

OK, I have been watching you for about 4 years now and the show at the end may have made this my most favorite video yet. Sorry to keep commenting, but this had me rolling. HAHA

Once again a masterpiece of technical wizardry. Hail the king the king lives

This was a great series on a American Classic lawn tractor, thank you Mustie1

JD 318 was a damned good unit. My grandparents bought one brand new when I was a kid and it got worked hard 4 seasons for many many years.

Hi mustie, had a quiet day today and really got hooked on your channel. Saw the Honda 250 and the John deere 318. Really enjoyed watching the way you work. Your knowledge and your patience are the key to your success. Over the years, in the Uk I have done a lot of restoration work in my garage but purely as a hobby. Thank you for your videos Philippe,

You know Mustie, if you put that snowblower on the 318, you're going to have to make a cab for it. I would suggest a modified old truck dog house. Great stuff keep 'em coming.

Remember that you may get snow buildup around that hydraulic fitting that lifts the plow. The residual heat of the engine after you shut it off can cause the snow to melt and then refreeze as ice. At startup next time from an unheated space, the ice may cause damage to the fitting. I had something similar happen to mine. Design flaw IMO.

Musty, You have a gift from God. Thanks from a grateful fan

I'm amazed at where this lawn mower starred to it now. Fabulous work My belt is always coming off my lawn mower. I was watching for any hints on why. You turned this into master piece.

Looks like you can’t wait for some snow. You’ve resurrected it into a great machine. Well done!

I think you do a fantastic job, no matter what you work on.... Nice job!

Painting the plow??? Now we’re getting fancy 😆

A salt spreader powered off the PTO in the rear would be the icing on the cake, plus if you had a hanging rear implement it would put some load on the drive wheels even if you didn't spread salt.

I really admire how you take the time to fix the minor things as well as not spend a whole lot of time on minor things. Examples are the exhaust tip and the not slip pads. It really shows how you know what's important and not so important. The exhaust tip might not be so important but sure would drive ya up the wall seeing it like it was on the other hand the not slip pads will be worn and dirty anyways. Great vids as always!

Likability of this guy is 100. I love how he interacts with the viewers! I watched this project from beginning to end. Great job!!

HaHa I like the way you check it out after the fix. Never saw anyone ride a tractor like that.

Nice Vid series Darren. I enjoyed it nearly as much as old Crusty. Keep up the good work.

The various poses on the finished tractor were EPIC! I was laughing so hard I spit out my coffee! LOL Great job Mustie1. Those are nice machines.

What an amazing final act. The master mechanic (Jay Leno incarnate) had us rolling in our recliners. A wonderful job on the tractor, better than new. We noticed you were using 3M products. Be reminded, we can get them through the company store at a reduced rate if you can plan ahead. Again, a fabulous video in all ways. One of the best!

Very, very good job! That little tractor deserve your attentions and habilities. Congratulations!

I give you a standing ovation of ... ... APPLAUSE!!!

Get back to us with a demo (dare I say it) when it snows!

Thanks for the vid! Great Blues Brothers quote, what's the best line form that movie?

Mustie,,The man, the machines and the GLORIES of his talents. A man is judged by the quality of his work ,, nice work Mustie ! And never lose your body hammer .L.O.L . Bring on the snow!!

Great project , before and after speaks volumes ! i love the complete fix of all, today not many go for small items and your always do ! Thanks Mustie