Good morning Homeuser,
Your 318 has an Onan model P218 twin cylinder engine that was built in January of 1988. This makes your tractor a 1988 or 1989 year model.
The Onan P218 engine has two cylinders in a horizontal opposed configuration. It has solid state ignition and uses battery positive electricity from the key switch to power it.
Both the Onan engine and JD 318 are fairly stout units, but as with any machine/engine, does need regular maintenance performed on it.
Incorporated into the tractor wiring harness are several safety circuits to prevent engine starting when an unsafe condition is present. Similar safety circuits shut down the engine if an unsafe condition is present. Sometimes these circuits have malfunctions.
I used to do house calls for customers, but stopped a few years ago and only do maintenance on my own machines.
For years I operated P218 powered garden tractors in my lawn care/snow removal business, but went to Zero Turn mowers in 2008 and sold all but one of my garden tractors. The high time P218 that was in my garden tractor failed and as Onan engines are no longer produced, I repowered this tractor with a Briggs Vanguard engine.
Onan parts are still available although fairly expensive.
I have both JD and Onan service manuals for Onan engines in pdf format should your tech need this information, they are large downloads however.
JD service manuals are available at JD dealers and possibly on line.
Keep us up to date with the condition of your tractor.:laughing::biggrin::smile:
