Rescuing the Abandoned John Deere 111

[@robchamberlin4900]

I have both a 79 and a newly acquired 83 111 and I'll tell you they are a lot stronger than you're giving them credit for. I've done a lot of things with my 79 111 you'd do with larger tractors and it can handle it. Not all the time but comes through when you need it to.

[@MichaelTJD60]

They are definitely built better than the base-model lawn tractors of today. The pressed steel frame still remains their biggest downfall, but then again I haven't heard many complaints of frame issues with them.

[@joshuaperry9375]

​@@MichaelTJD60I have a prototype john deere 111 with a gas tank under the hood and a manual pto and they really are a beast of a tractor, it will pull about 5 times as hard as you would think it would 😂 great machines and if you can get one cheap I would do it!

[@ronsbeerreviewstools4361]

Thanks for posting.They will be good projects.

[@JuliaCV9]

I have a 1986 MTD Coast To Coast with a 36" or 38" deck lawn mower. With a 12hp I/C Briggs and Stratton engine, manual transmission and the classic tri-spoke steering wheel and manual Forward Neutral Reverse in the middle floor. I learned to drive a mower on that old Coast To Coast

[@johnphilips6868]

I have an MTD too but it's a really beaten up 2009 MTD bolens. It's in really bad shape right now. I wouldn't be surprised if I turned on the blades one day and it all fell apart

[@JuliaCV9]

@@johnphilips6868 that sucks, I hope you can fix that MTD of yours up to practically new condition

[@johnphilips6868]

@@JuliaCV9 My mom is already getting a new mower delivered. It's one of those weird looking troy bilt neighborhood riders

[@JuliaCV9]

@@johnphilips6868 oh, ok. every single riding mower I've driven is somewhere before 1990

[@ThePhotographyHobbyist]

Looks surprisingly good for sitting there that long.

[@MichaelTJD60]

Yeah I was really surprised, the only part of it that was really rusted out was the dash tower and a couple cross members on the frame.

[@robchamberlin4900]

Say what you want but I've done some pulling in a pinch when I've needed to with my 79 JD 111. These aren't slouches by any means. I just picked up an 83 JD 111 along with a JD 212 someone put out for scrap. Hopefully I can get them running.

[@spencersand2754]

Why did they dump it there

[@MichaelTJD60]

The owner was a bit crazy. He just left it in the back corner of his property before he died, and they never removed it when they cleared out his estate.

[@spencersand2754]

That’s kind of sad. that was a mower back in it’s day. glad you rescued it

[@jakesnake_27]

Cool video. My uncle had a 112L. Looked almost identical to this 111, but had a hydrostatic trans...

[@MichaelTJD60]

112L's are neat little tractors. Only made one year, and they were the first of many Deere tractors to use a Kawasaki engine.

[@jakesnake_27]

Yeah it was a pretty cool machine. The engine was tired and needed a rebuild, so he let it go for a couple hundred bucks. Everything worked on it, and it still ran, but barely. This was a couple years ago...

[@robertsmarr7574]

If you’re dragging something like that you can use pieces of wood are used to use them on tow trucks When the front ball joint fails

[@kurtm2081]

Garden tractor are much better then new ones my bolens 1256 could pull both thoes tractors at the same time in gear through the mud I love that thing

[@Goatguy2021]

My John Deere tractor is a 112L. And he has problems with driving are you able to answer my question I give me some ideas what we should be

[@MichaelTJD60]

That's kind of a broad statement. What is it doing? Not shifting into gear? Jumping out of gear?

[@Goatguy2021]

MichaelTJD60 The first time to use in the day it drives perfectly fine after a minute it feels like the belt was stupid but when I go uphill it is perfectly fine tell me if you need more digital

[@MichaelTJD60]

Sounds like your drive belt is on it's way out.

[@Goatguy2021]

MichaelTJD60 ok i get a new One ?

[@MichaelTJD60]

Yes that is your best option. It is part number M84075 at the John Deere dealer.

[@brutuscucv423]

I thought you were going to get that motor going in that 111 I have a 1987 wheel horse 11 horse power with the same motor in it every since 1987 it runns great and idle very very good it needs a new ignition switch and it is a 4 speed but it had a couple of deck belt replacements on it

[@MichaelTJD60]

It wouldn't have taken much effort to get running but I didn't have time to work on it. I parted the tractor out. Sold the engine for $30 to a guy who just wanted it for the carburetor.

[@jamescoursey8679]

How do you tell the year from the Identification number?

[@MichaelTJD60]

I have the numbers memorized, but you can look them up on TractorData. Most of the time the serial numbers listed on that site are accurate.

[@jamescoursey8679]

MichaelTJD60 thanks

[@markusnormann7218]

... looool.... that was way more EASY than the Peterbuild :-) ... have fun with it :-)

[@masonblanton5660]

thanks for the info. i have a husky hydrostatic 1256 and that thing can pull

[@Lakeslake79]

pretty nice, id be jumping up and down to find that in my woods! i would be interested in the dash, to adapt to my Massey Ferguson, because the plastic on mine is broke pretty bad. maybe the pan to, but shipping would be practically imposible what are you looking to get for them?

[@MichaelTJD60]

Do you mean the plastic dash piece or the whole dash pedestal? The pedestal is rusted pretty badly but it may still be usable. I am going to tear into the thing tomorrow. I'm asking $40 for the fenders.

[@Dmeyers2005]

Tank andmetal available?

[@MichaelTJD60]

Sorry, all the parts are sold.

[@gemmyboi3143]

did this model have head lights or was that just a big hole in the front?

[@MichaelTJD60]

I've never seen a 111 with headlights before, most of the ones I have seen just have a hole. But I doubt they came that way from the factory.

[@edwardmongan8004]

Found ur channel because of the peterbelt

[@FixerUpRon]

Enjoyed it... I Subscribed

[@MichaelTJD60]

Thanks!

[@lookeywho1287]

If you don't have the time to work on it, why did you go to the trouble of stealing it?

[@MichaelTJD60]

How is it stealing when I asked the property owner for permission first? The plan from the beginning was to part the machine out and that's exactly what I told him I was going to do with it.

[@angus4202]

I have a 1983 111 and it had the motor grenade on me ended up putting a new motor in it and it runs great

[@MichaelTJD60]

Those Briggs I/C series are good engines for their size. They're so easy to find, if this 111 was in better shape I probably would have bought another engine for it and repowered it. But the tractor was rusted out beyond repair.

[@gemmyboi3143]

I wonder why it didn't have front wheels?

[@MichaelTJD60]

Your guess is as good as mine. I couldn't find them anywhere, maybe they were buried in the leaves and I just didn't see them.

[@markduncan6690]

Go for it!! Best of luck to you!!

[@MichaelTJD60]

+mark duncan I ended up parting it out.

[@MAJE18TV]

Nice vlog God bless,,

[@masonblanton5660]

is your 210 a hydrostatic

[@MichaelTJD60]

Nope, 4-speed gear drive.

[@_chevy_s-zj5pw]

2:13 challenge accepted wait a minute my wheel fell off when I hit the first bump

[@tommymann69]

Great john deere mower

[@Voartist]

They're too expensive new not to try to refurbish them. I just put $300 into my JD 102 front end and it works like a dream. Suddenly I have "power steering." Saved $2000 over just a cheaper riding mower.

[@timkirkendall8214]

What's your ebay store?

[@MichaelTJD60]

MichaelTJD60. Don't have much for sale at the moment.

[@FattyDoveRacing]

You forgot your floor jack

[@MichaelTJD60]

I went back and grabbed it the next day when I hauled the mower deck home.

[@60EFFIE]

I’ve heard of Woods mowers, but free JD’s? Not until now. Scores!

[@MichaelTJD60]

Wouldn't be my first free John Deere. lol

[@717chevyguy6]

i know how you feel about garden tractors i have 2 318 and a 317

[@MichaelTJD60]

I've seen your videos. Nice channel. Took me a minute to realize you were John's neighbor. He's in one of my videos.

[@_chevy_s-zj5pw]

I have 8 I Have a Sears super 12 hydro trac a cub 86 2 214s a 212 a 210 a wheel horse c81 and a craftsman gt18

[@daschwagg607]

You should've tried getting it running

[@MichaelTJD60]

Would have been an interesting project. That engine was seized up tight.

[@7.62foryou5]

New motor on it great score I picked one up for 70 yesterday

[@AndysRC08]

I have a Craftsman LT1000 18 hp Briggs & Stratton engine can pull a 7 passenger van for a short distance

[@13jac1316]

Exactly, I'd love to see a little rudy pudy new craftsman tractor pull that. Just a tip when pulling when you have gears keep in the first gear and throttle a little above idle its slow but its just better for the tractor and ease off the clutch when your about to drive. I used to have a wheel horse 414-8 8 speed tractor and it pulled a pickup when the truck was in gear and the tractor was in low gears.

[@MichaelTJD60]

Thanks for the tip. I rarely use 1st gear on my tractor so I wasn't sure how well it would pull with it. And my drive belt is also out of adjustment. The next garden tractor I buy will be a shaft drive like a 318. And yes, letting off the clutch easy is a good thing to do but with this belt drive it actually doesn't make much of a difference. If you let it out too slow it won't create the friction to grab the drive belt. So no matter how easy or hard you let the clutch out it will still bark like a seal.

[@billhendrickson5506]

In the towing if you would have grabbed it closer most of the front end would have come up some instead of having to drag the unit on the ground. Just saying.

[@MichaelTJD60]

You are right. If I was doing this now 4 years later I would have just hung the front of the tractor up on the sleeve hitch of my other tractor and dragged it home that way. No tow strap needed.

[@billhendrickson5506]

I watched your whole video. Thanks for your reply. I hope you don't think I was being nit-picky. That was not my intention.

[@jordanbanks2836]

Don’t let them differentials move

[@MichaelTJD60]

Why not? The axles spun freely without a problem. The 801 transaxle is sealed with high-temp grease instead of oil...surprisingly, it had no moisture in it after all those years.

[@luciendube4393]

Those little 100 series were tanks tanks for their size.

[@MichaelTJD60]

+Lucien Dube Yup...back then even their entry-level machines were really tough.

[@luciendube4393]

+MichaelTJD60 but I don't know if you could get 46" decks for 'em though.

[@MichaelTJD60]

Yes the 112L and 116 had 46" decks.

[@luciendube4393]

+MichaelTJD60 I saw a 116 on eBay with a 46" deck. That's a big deck for a little tractor like that even with the power those things make.

[@MichaelTJD60]

It does look big for a machine that size but the 12 HP Kawasaki and 16 HP twin Briggs have plenty of power to run it.

[@gemmyboi3143]

the ones I have seen have never had a hole in the front.

[@MichaelTJD60]

All the ones I have seen have a hole, I guess the lens can get broken or lost pretty easily.

[@electroluxlad]

MichaelTJD60 GREAT STUFF MAN could you make some new videos the last one i saw was parting out the 111 but i would love to see more

[@MichaelTJD60]

Sure, I will get around to making more vids eventually. There's not much to see though lol.

[@electroluxlad]

well i like your videos

[@MichaelTJD60]

Thanks man it means a lot.

[@electroluxlad]

well hope you make more vids

[@bradmay4713]

I have a John Deere. 110 and 140

[@kartsandcameras2441]

Same and I have a 210

[@sabbath7081]

11 horse power model 253707 IC cast iron bore long life engine.

[@blakedalziel1939]

MichaelTJD60 I would buy the mower Plz

[@MichaelTJD60]

It's long gone...sorry.

[@brandonsmithson7528]

I have a john deere 210 and I use it to tractor pull and they are beasts me and my dad completely redid most of the engine with origanal parts I hope you will check out one of my tractor pulling videos.

[@MichaelTJD60]

I definitely will. Thanks for the comment. I can't wait to pull with my 210 next year but right now I need to rebuild the motor and we are going to fabricate a sleeve hitch and wheelie bar combo. Looking forward to your pulling videos. A couple people had pulling videos of their 210's and 212's but I can't find them anymore so I will be looking forward to your videos.

[@brandonsmithson7528]

My dad's friend has a JD 430 that thing is a beast if of a mower that is my next tractor that I would like to have I was thinking about a 318 but they are kinda just homeowner tractors not really for tuff stuff like our 210's :)

[@MichaelTJD60]

Lol what? A 318 is a far better tractor than a 210. Once you go to the hydraulics and power steering and shaft driven hydro transmission you don't go back. I want to find one real soon.

[@tommymann69]

Good project mower fix it up

[@teddybearsandangels]

I have a 111 but no rust

[@MichaelTJD60]

I HAD a 111 but sold and scrapped most of the parts. This tractor no longer exists.

[@neilmoore3856]

Shoulda set it on an old car hood and pulled it.

[@MichaelTJD60]

If only I had one laying around.

[@tittylover6997]

My friends 111 blew up today

[@MichaelTJD60]

Ouch

[@802rednecks]

you would not be able to tow that with a new tractor

[@MichaelTJD60]

My X570 could probably do it with a more aggressive set of tires, but I wouldn't trust anything smaller to try and tow that 111.

[@robertsmarr7574]

Are used to own a John Deere LT 160 is my great grandfather’s grandmother gave it to me

[@jeremylee99100]

my new garden tractor will do it, its a 748 diesel 4x4 ultimate tractor

[@MichaelTJD60]

Who needs 4WD? Lol. It's handy on a tractor that size but my 210 pulled this thing just fine. When I said "new garden tractor" I was referring to the people who buy a $1500 POS Craftsman LAWN tractor from Lowe's and think it's a garden tractor, then try to go haul logs or till their garden with it. An X748 is a different story.

[@jeremylee99100]

oh, then my bad i took it the rong way. Sorry about that. I have a 332 i just got with less than 100 original hours but needs painted and to get it running

[@MichaelTJD60]

No problem. The 332 sounds cool, hard to find one with low hours. Just makes you wonder if they were hard working hours or if the thing just sat. You ought to make a video of it. Probably looks good next to your 317.

[@jeremylee99100]

sold the 317 to buy the 332, the guy has money and had it since it was new. I The 332 is rough, need to get it running. he dosent have a big enough yard to use it. so i belive it is low hours that it wasnt ran hard much

[@jeremylee99100]

i will make a video when I am working on it Saturday or so

[@electroluxlad]

and i sold my john deere 318 and never made a video on it and i wish i did and it was my grandpas and he always took very good care of it

[@MichaelTJD60]

Oooh that hits home pretty hard. I would be sick if I sold my 210 or my soon-to-be 316.

[@electroluxlad]

i wish i did not sell it

[@anthonygrabau8341]

Forgot ur jack

[@MichaelTJD60]

I know, I went back the next day and got it.

[@DonovanBryant92]

I have a mid 80,s Murray mower I got it for free I am turning it into a race mower

[@tommymann69]

Come join lawncare nation on facebook

[@sjd73ss]

Next time put your kids sled under the front end

[@dariushicks8243]

I have a big gt18 newholland and I would have taken the challenge just let me get a new oil filter lol

[@13jac1316]

haha saw ur add on craigslist

[@MichaelTJD60]

Really? Haha I guess it gets around. I'm hoping everyone in the Philly area sees it cause I need this thing GONE. I need to make an update video, now the 111 is just a pile of parts in the garage.

[@13jac1316]

ya i was just searching for a project locally and found ur post

[@MichaelTJD60]

You in NJ?

[@13jac1316]

ya

[@MichaelTJD60]

Nice to hear from another NJ guy. North or South?

[@aideneagle9505]

I have a 100

[@MichaelTJD60]

My buddy just picked one up. We are working on getting it running.

[@JDGator]

I will buy the whole thing jk!!!!

[@MichaelTJD60]

Lol you're a little late, I already have a few parts sold off of it...the hood, steering wheel, shifter, and the back wheels. Lots more though...I have the mower deck, front axle, fenders, gas tank, engine, and trans to sell.

[@grahampreece4846]

Far to much talking

[@MichaelTJD60]

Well, sorry this wasn't a "first start in 20 years" like most of the other rescue videos on KZbin. This one wasn't in any condition to run again and the engine was seized up anyway. More of a conversation piece than a project.